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This resolution proposes a constitutional amendment that would give the President limited line-item veto power over spending in bills passed by Congress. If the President signs a bill or joint resolution, the President could reduce a specific appropriation instead of approving the full amount. The reduced version would become law unless Congress steps in. Congress would then have a chance to reject the cut, and if two-thirds of both the House and the Senate vote to disapprove it, the spending level would go back to the original amount. This amendment would only take effect if approved by three-fourths of the states within seven years.
- The President could cut, but not fully cancel, an appropriation in a bill before signing it into law.
- After making a reduction, the President must notify both chambers of Congress within 10 days.
- Congress can vote to undo the reduction, but it would take a two-thirds vote in both the House and Senate.
- If enough lawmakers vote to disapprove the cut, the spending amount would return to the original level in the bill.
Official Summaries
This joint resolution proposes a constitutional amendment that authorizes the President to use a line item veto to reduce an appropriation in a bill or joint resolution.
Under the amendment, the President must notify Congress within 10 days of using this authority to reduce an appropriation. The House and Senate may then consider disapproval of the reduction.
If at least two-thirds of each chamber of Congress votes to disapprove the reduction, the amount of the appropriation that is subject to the reduction must be returned to the amount that was originally presented to the President.
Current Full Text
[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.J. Res. 8 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. J. RES. 8
Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States to
provide certain line item veto authority to the President.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
January 3, 2025
Mr. McClintock (for himself and Mr. Weber of Texas) submitted the
following joint resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the
Judiciary
_______________________________________________________________________
JOINT RESOLUTION
Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States to
provide certain line item veto authority to the President.
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. In approving and signing a bill or joint resolution
that is presented under section 7 of article I, the President may
reduce an appropriation in such bill or joint resolution, and such bill
or joint resolution shall become law with such reduction incorporated.
``Section 2. If the President reduces an appropriation under
section 1 of this article--
``(1) not later than 10 days after the date of such
reduction, the President shall notify the House of
Representatives and the Senate of such reduction;
``(2) the House of Representatives and the Senate may
consider disapproval of such reduction; and
``(3) if two-thirds of each House votes to disapprove of
such reduction, the amount of the appropriation in law subject
to such reduction shall be treated as returned to the amount
originally presented to the President under section 1.''.
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