Arkansas One Of Few States With Simple Majority Override

Political experts say Arkansas' low threshold to override a governor's veto of a bill takes power from the executive branch and gives it to the legislative branch.

The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette reports that the state is one of only six in the country where lawmakers need only a majority of lawmaker's votes to override a governor's veto.

A majority constitutes 51 of the 100 representatives and 18 of the 35 senators. Most states require a two-thirds majority of the Legislature to override a veto.

Still, overrides in Arkansas are rare.

Last week, the Legislature voted to override Gov. Mike Beebe's veto of a sales tax exemption for sand used in oil and natural-gas drilling.