In the U.S. House of Representatives, a bill normally needs a simple majority of the members voting in favor to pass, which in practice is usually 218 votes if all 435 members vote and no seats are vacant.

Core rule: simple majority

  • Under standard House rules, legislation passes if more than half of the members voting choose “yea.”
  • Because the House has 435 seats, this is commonly described as 218 votes when every seat is filled and everyone votes.

Quorum and variations

  • The Constitution requires a quorum (a minimum number of members present) for the House to do business, which is usually a majority of the members; if fewer are present, the vote cannot proceed as a valid final passage vote.
  • If some members are absent or vote “present,” the specific number of “yea” votes needed can be slightly lower than 218, as the majority is calculated from those actually voting “yea” or “nay,” not the full 435 seats.

Special supermajority cases

  • To override a presidential veto , the House must reach a two‑thirds vote of members present and voting, which is a higher bar than the simple majority used for ordinary passage.
  • Certain fast‑track procedures in the House, such as considering a bill under “suspension of the rules,” can also require a two‑thirds vote even though regular passage only needs a simple majority.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.