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This joint resolution would propose changes to the U.S. Constitution that would give the President a limited line-item veto over spending, set term limits for members of Congress, and require a two-thirds vote in each house of Congress to pass any new tax or fee, or to raise an existing one. These changes would only take effect if approved by three-fourths of the state legislatures within seven years after Congress sends them out for ratification.
The President could reduce or reject specific spending items in a bill or joint resolution instead of approving or rejecting the whole measure.
If the President changes a spending bill this way, the President must send the affected part back to the House where it started, along with the reasons for the objection, within 10 days.
The proposal would limit House members to 6 terms and Senators to 2 terms. Time served in certain partial terms could count toward those limits.
Any bill that creates a new tax or fee, or raises an existing one, would need support from at least two-thirds of the members of each house, and it would have to deal with only that single subject.
Official Summaries
This joint resolution proposes constitutional amendments that (1) authorize the President to reduce or disapprove any appropriation in a bill or joint resolution using a line-item veto; (2) prohibit Members of Congress from serving more than six terms in the House of Representatives or two terms in the Senate; and (3) prohibit a chamber of Congress from agreeing to legislation that imposes, authorizes, or raises any tax or fee unless the legislation contains no other subject and is agreed to by an affirmative vote of at least two-thirds of the chamber.
Current Full Text
[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S.J. Res. 2 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
<DOC>
119th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. J. RES. 2
Proposing amendments to the Constitution of the United States relative
to the line item veto, a limitation on the number of terms that a
Member of Congress may serve, and requiring a vote of two-thirds of the
membership of both Houses of Congress on any legislation raising or
imposing new taxes or fees.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
January 8, 2025
Mr. Scott of Florida introduced the following joint resolution; which
was read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary
_______________________________________________________________________
JOINT RESOLUTION
Proposing amendments to the Constitution of the United States relative
to the line item veto, a limitation on the number of terms that a
Member of Congress may serve, and requiring a vote of two-thirds of the
membership of both Houses of Congress on any legislation raising or
imposing new taxes or fees.
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 articles are proposed as
amendments to the Constitution of the United States, all or any of
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 by
the Congress:
``Article--
``Section 1. The President may reduce or disapprove any
appropriation in any bill or joint resolution that is presented to the
President under section 7 of article I.
``Section 2. Any bill or joint resolution that the President
approves and signs, after being amended under section 1, shall become
law as so modified.
``Section 3. If the President reduces or disapproves an
appropriation in a bill or joint resolution under section 1, not later
than 10 days after the date on which the bill or joint resolution is
presented to the President under section 7 of article I, the President
shall return to the House from which the bill or joint resolution
originated--
``(a) the portion of the bill or joint resolution containing the
reduced or disapproved appropriation; and
``(b) a statement of each objection of the President to the
appropriation.
``Section 4. Congress may separately consider any appropriation
that is reduced or disapproved under section 1 in the manner prescribed
under section 7 of article I for bills disapproved by the President.''
``Article--
``Section 1. No person who has served 6 terms as a Representative
shall be eligible for election to the House of Representatives. For
purposes of this section, the election of a person to fill a vacancy in
the House of Representatives shall be included as 1 term in determining
the number of terms that such person has served as a Representative if
the person fills the vacancy for more than 1 year.
``Section 2. No person who has served 2 terms as a Senator shall be
eligible for election or appointment to the Senate. For purposes of
this section, the election or appointment of a person to fill a vacancy
in the Senate shall be included as 1 term in determining the number of
terms that such person has served as a Senator if the person fills the
vacancy for more than 3 years.
``Section 3. No term beginning before the date of the ratification
of this article shall be taken into account in determining eligibility
for election or appointment under this article.''
``Article--
``Section 1. Legislation imposing or authorizing a new tax or fee
may only be agreed to by a House of Congress if such legislation
contains no other subject and is agreed to upon an affirmative vote of
not less than two-thirds of the Members of such House of Congress, duly
chosen and sworn.
``Section 2. Legislation raising any tax or fee, including any
increase in a rate of tax or fee imposed on a percentage basis, any
increase in an amount of a tax or fee imposed on a flat or fixed basis,
or any decrease in or elimination of an exemption, waiver, credit, or
deduction with respect to a tax or fee, may only be agreed to by a
House of Congress if such legislation contains no other subject and is
agreed to upon an affirmative vote of not less than two-thirds of the
Members of such House of Congress, duly chosen and sworn.''.
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