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This resolution would add a balanced budget requirement to the Constitution. In simple terms, it says the federal government should generally spend no more money in a year than it takes in, unless Congress approves extra spending with a strong supermajority vote. It also sets limits on debt increases, makes the President submit a balanced budget each year, requires any tax increase to get extra support in Congress, and asks each federal agency to explain why it needs the money requested in its budget.
- Annual federal spending would have to stay at or below federal income, unless three-fifths of both the House and Senate approve going over that limit.
- The proposal also puts a cap on total spending based on the size of the economy, starting at 20 percent of GDP and slowly declining over time, but it would not force spending below 16 percent of GDP.
- Any increase in the federal debt held by the public would also need approval by a three-fifths vote in both chambers.
- The President would have to send Congress a budget that is already balanced, and each department or agency would have to justify its funding request, including each line item and why it is needed for its main work.
- Raising revenue, such as through tax increases, would require a three-fifths vote in each House.
- The budget rules could be waived during war, military conflict, a serious national security threat, or a natural disaster, if Congress approves under the stated rules.
- If ratified by three-fourths of the states, the amendment would take effect starting with the earlier of the 10th fiscal year after ratification or the first fiscal year after a year when the federal budget is no longer in deficit.
Official Summaries
This joint resolution proposes a constitutional amendment prohibiting total outlays for a fiscal year from exceeding total receipts for that fiscal year unless (1) Congress authorizes the excess by a three-fifths vote of each chamber, and (2) total outlays do not exceed a specified percentage of the estimated gross domestic product of the United States. The prohibition excludes outlays for repayment of debt principal and receipts derived from borrowing.
The amendment requires a three-fifths vote of each chamber of Congress to increase revenue or increase the limit on the debt of the United States.
The amendment also requires the President to submit an annual budget in which total outlays do not exceed total receipts. The President's budget must also include justifications and specified details regarding funding proposed for departments and agencies.
Congress may waive the requirements due to a declaration of war, a military conflict, an event that causes an imminent and serious military threat to national security, or a natural disaster.
Current Full Text
[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.J. Res. 11 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. J. RES. 11
Proposing a balanced budget amendment to the Constitution requiring
that each agency and department's funding is justified.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
January 3, 2025
Mr. Perry (for himself, Mr. Cloud, Mr. Ogles, and Mr. Zinke) submitted
the following joint resolution; which was referred to the Committee on
the Judiciary
_______________________________________________________________________
JOINT RESOLUTION
Proposing a balanced budget amendment to the Constitution requiring
that each agency and department's funding is justified.
Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United
States of America in Congress assembled (two-thirds of each House
concurring therein), That the following article is proposed as an
amendment to the Constitution of the United States, which shall be
valid to all intents and purposes as part of the Constitution when
ratified by the legislatures of three-fourths of the several States
within seven years after the date of its submission for ratification:
``Article--
``Section 1. Total outlays for any fiscal year shall not exceed
total receipts for that fiscal year, unless three-fifths of the whole
number of each House of Congress shall provide by law for a specific
excess of outlays over receipts by a rollcall vote, but in no event
shall total outlays for any fiscal year exceed the following: for the
first fiscal year for which this article takes effect, 20 percent of
the estimated gross domestic product of the United States for that
year, and for each subsequent fiscal year, a percentage of the
estimated gross domestic product equal to the applicable percentage for
the preceding fiscal year reduced by .1 percentage point. Under this
section, total spending for any fiscal year is not required to be less
than 16 percent of the estimated gross domestic product of the United
States.
``Section 2. The limit on the debt of the United States held by the
public shall not be increased, unless three-fifths of the whole number
of each House shall provide by law for such an increase by a rollcall
vote.
``Section 3. Prior to each fiscal year, the President shall
transmit to the Congress a proposed budget for the United States
Government for that fiscal year in which total outlays do not exceed
total receipts.
``Section 4. No bill to increase revenue shall become law unless
approved by a three-fifths majority of the whole number of each House
by a rollcall vote.
``Section 5. Any budget plan for a fiscal year for the Government
submitted by the President to the Congress shall include a
justification by each department or agency of the Government for any
funding proposed for that department or agency in that plan. The
justification shall include a justification of each line item in the
budget of that department or agency based upon its effect on carrying
out its mission and its effect, if any, on the gross domestic product
of the United States and an additional funding level below the
requested number that would allow that department or agency to complete
all of its critical mission functions.
``Section 6. Total receipts shall include all receipts of the
United States Government except those derived from borrowing. Total
outlays shall include all outlays of the United States Government
except for those for repayment of debt principal.
``Section 7. The Congress shall enforce and implement this article
by appropriate legislation, which may rely on estimates of outlays and
receipts.
``Section 8. The Congress may waive the provisions of this article
for any fiscal year in which a declaration of war is in effect. The
provisions of this article may be waived for any fiscal year in which
the United States is engaged in military conflict or after any event
which causes an imminent and serious military threat to national
security and is so declared by a joint resolution or during which a
natural disaster is declared by a joint resolution, adopted by a vote
by two-thirds of each House, which becomes law.
``Section 9. This article shall take effect beginning with the
earlier of the tenth fiscal year beginning after its ratification or
the first fiscal year beginning after any fiscal year in which the
budget of the United States is not in deficit.''.
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