Civil Rights Act of 1866 passed over Johnson's veto

Background. The 39th United States Congress met in Washington, D.C., during Andrew Johnson's administration. The Civil Rights Act of 1866 was the first federal law to define citizenship and affirm equal protection. Senator Lyman Trumbull authored the bill, arguing Congress had power to eliminate discriminatory badges of servitude prohibited by the Thirteenth Amendment.

Presidential Veto. President Andrew Johnson, a War Democrat who assumed office in 1865, initially devised Reconstruction policy without legislative intervention. Despite being strongly urged by moderates to sign the Civil Rights Act, Johnson broke decisively with them by vetoing the bill on March 27, 1866.

Congressional Override. Congress passed the bill to support the Thirteenth Amendment, and Johnson vetoed it again. A two-thirds majority in each chamber overrode the veto, allowing the law to become law without presidential signature. The Senate override occurred on April 5, 1866, and the Act was enacted on April 9, 1866.