Proposing a balanced budget amendment to the Constitution of the United States.
- Bill Number
- H.J.Res. 10
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Economics and Public Finance
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-01-03: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
- Last Updated
- 2026-06-11T23:26:39Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
This joint resolution (H.J. Res. 10) proposes an amendment to the U.S. Constitution to require the federal government to maintain a balanced budget each fiscal year, limiting spending and debt increases unless approved by supermajorities in Congress. The goal is to enforce fiscal discipline by ensuring government expenditures do not exceed revenues without strong legislative consensus.
Key Provisions
- Balanced Budget Requirement (Section 1): Total government spending (outlays) for any fiscal year cannot exceed total revenues (receipts) unless three-fifths of all members in both the House and Senate approve a specific excess through a recorded rollcall vote.
- Debt Limit Restriction (Section 2): The national debt held by the public cannot be increased unless approved by a three-fifths vote in each chamber via rollcall.
- Presidential Budget Proposal (Section 3): Before each fiscal year, the President must submit a proposed budget to Congress where spending does not exceed revenues.
- Revenue Increases (Section 4): Any bill raising taxes or other revenues must pass with a majority vote in each chamber, recorded by rollcall.
- Waivers for Emergencies (Section 5): The rules can be waived for a fiscal year during a declared war or if Congress passes a joint resolution (by majority vote) declaring a serious military threat to national security. Waivers must specify and limit the excess spending or debt increase to what's needed for that conflict.
- Enforcement (Section 6): Congress must pass laws to implement these rules, which can use estimates for spending and revenues.
- Definitions (Section 7): "Receipts" include all government income except borrowing; "outlays" include all spending except principal repayments on debt.
- Effective Date (Section 8): The amendment takes effect in the fifth fiscal year after ratification by three-fourths of the states, within seven years of congressional approval.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
This proposal would add a new article to the Constitution, introducing strict fiscal limits not currently present. Unlike current law, which relies on statutory budget processes and debt ceiling votes (often by simple majority), this would embed balanced budgeting as supreme constitutional law, requiring supermajorities (three-fifths) for deficits or debt hikes—higher than the current simple majority for most budget actions. It also mandates a balanced presidential budget proposal, shifting from flexible executive budgeting.
Potential Impacts
- On Government Agencies: Federal agencies may face reduced funding flexibility, potentially leading to cuts in programs like social services, infrastructure, or defense if revenues fall short, forcing prioritization or efficiency measures.
- On Citizens: Could stabilize long-term taxes and reduce inflation risks from deficits but might limit government responses to economic downturns, recessions, or crises (e.g., pandemics), affecting public services, healthcare, education, and welfare benefits.
- On International Relations: Limits on debt could enhance U.S. creditworthiness globally but might constrain foreign aid, military engagements, or trade policies if waivers aren't invoked, potentially weakening U.S. influence in alliances or responses to international threats.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Congress: Bears primary responsibility for enforcement, waivers, and votes on budgets, revenues, and debt—members from both parties would need broad consensus for exceptions.
- President: Required to propose balanced budgets, influencing executive priorities but with limited unilateral power over fiscal matters.
- State Governments: Must ratify the amendment (three-fourths needed), and could see indirect effects on federal funding for state programs.
- Taxpayers and Businesses: Directly impacted by revenue rules and potential spending cuts, which could affect tax burdens, economic growth, and job-creating programs.
- Federal Agencies and Programs: Entities like the Department of Defense, Social Security Administration, and Treasury would operate under tighter fiscal constraints.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Constitutional: As an amendment, it would become the highest law, overriding conflicting statutes or practices; ratification requires two-thirds approval in both congressional chambers and three-fourths of states, a high bar historically met only 27 times.
- Legal: Allows Congress flexibility through estimates and waivers but could spark litigation over definitions (e.g., what constitutes a "military conflict") or enforcement, potentially involving the Supreme Court to interpret terms like "imminent threat."
- Political: Promotes fiscal conservatism by raising hurdles for deficits, which could reduce partisan gridlock on budgets but also risk government shutdowns or delayed crisis responses; it may intensify debates on priorities like entitlements versus tax cuts, influencing elections and policy platforms without favoring any ideology.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (15)
Rep. Allen, Rick W. [R-GA-12], Rep. Latta, Robert E. [R-OH-5], Rep. Zinke, Ryan K. [R-MT-1], Rep. Hill, J. French [R-AR-2], Rep. Estes, Ron [R-KS-4], Rep. Houchin, Erin [R-IN-9], Rep. Grothman, Glenn [R-WI-6], Rep. Mann, Tracey [R-KS-1], Rep. Calvert, Ken [R-CA-41], Rep. Bacon, Don [R-NE-2], Rep. Guthrie, Brett [R-KY-2], Rep. Fischbach, Michelle [R-MN-7], Rep. Schmidt, Derek [R-KS-2], Rep. Wied, Tony [R-WI-8], Rep. Edwards, Chuck [R-NC-11]
Recent Actions
- 2025-01-03: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
- 2025-01-03: Introduced in House
- 2025-01-03: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Proposing a balanced budget amendment to the Constitution of the United States. — issued 2025-01-03 — PDF (3 pages)