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Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States to provide for balanced budgets for the Government.

H.J.Res. 6January 3, 2025Rep. Fitzpatrick, Brian K. [R-PA-1]View Original
Economics and Public FinanceBudget deficits and national debtConstitution and constitutional amendmentsLegislative rules and procedure

Summary

This joint resolution proposes a constitutional amendment prohibiting total outlays for a fiscal year from exceeding total receipts for that fiscal year unless Congress authorizes the excess by a two-thirds roll call vote of each chamber. The amendment also requires the President to submit an annual budget in which total outlays for the fiscal year do not exceed total receipts. Congress may waive the requirements for any fiscal year in which (1) a declaration of war is in effect by a roll call vote, or (2) a declaration of a natural disaster or a national emergency is in effect that was declared by a joint resolution that became law after being adopted by a majority of each chamber of Congress.

Full Text

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office] [H.J. Res. 6 Introduced in House (IH)] <DOC> 119th CONGRESS 1st Session H. J. RES. 6 Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States to provide for balanced budgets for the Government. _______________________________________________________________________ IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES January 3, 2025 Mr. Fitzpatrick 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 for balanced budgets for the Government. 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: ``Article-- ``

Section 1. Total outlays for any fiscal year shall not exceed

total receipts for that fiscal year, unless two-thirds 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. ``

Section 2. 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 3. The Congress may waive the provisions of this article

for any fiscal year in which a declaration of war is in effect by a rollcall vote. ``

Section 4. The Congress may waive the provisions of this article

for any fiscal year in which a declaration of national emergency is in effect, as so declared by a joint resolution, adopted by a majority of the whole number of each House, which becomes law. ``

Section 5. The Congress may waive the provisions of this article

for any fiscal year in which a declaration of a natural disaster is in effect, as so declared by a joint resolution, adopted by a majority of the whole number of each House, which becomes law. ``

Section 6. The Congress shall enforce and implement this article

by appropriate legislation, which may rely on estimates of outlays and receipts. ``

Section 7. This article shall take effect beginning with the

fifth fiscal year beginning after its ratification.''. <all>