A 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.
- Bill Number
- S.J.Res. 2
- Origin Chamber
- Senate
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Economics and Public Finance
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-01-08: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
- Last Updated
- 2025-07-21T19:32:26Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose of the Legislation
This joint resolution (S.J. Res. 2) proposes three separate amendments to the U.S. Constitution. Its overall goal is to enhance fiscal restraint, limit the tenure of lawmakers, and make it harder to impose or increase taxes. These changes aim to give the President more control over spending, promote turnover in Congress, and require broader consensus for tax-related laws.
Key Provisions
The resolution outlines three distinct articles, each as a potential constitutional amendment:
- Article on Presidential Line Item Veto:
- Allows the President to reduce or disapprove specific appropriations (funding allocations) in bills or joint resolutions presented for signature.
- If the President approves the bill after such changes, it becomes law as modified.
- The President must return the disapproved portions and a statement of objections to the originating House of Congress within 10 days.
- Congress can then reconsider the disapproved items separately, following the standard veto override process (which requires a two-thirds vote in both Houses, as per existing Article I, Section 7).
- Article on Congressional Term Limits:
- Limits House Representatives to six terms (typically 12 years, since each term is two years).
- Limits Senators to two terms (typically 12 years, since each term is six years).
- Includes rules for vacancies: A House vacancy filling counts as a full term if over one year; a Senate vacancy filling counts as a full term if over three years.
- Terms starting before ratification do not count toward these limits, providing a grace period for current members.
- Article on Supermajority for Taxes and Fees:
- New taxes or fees can only be enacted if the bill contains no other topics (a "single-subject" rule) and passes with at least two-thirds approval in each House (of duly elected and sworn members).
- Increases in existing taxes or fees—such as rate hikes, flat-amount increases, or reductions in exemptions, credits, or deductions—follow the same single-subject and two-thirds vote requirements.
The amendments would take effect upon ratification by three-fourths of state legislatures within seven years of congressional submission.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Line Item Veto: Introduces a new power for the President to target specific spending items, unlike the current all-or-nothing veto. (A prior 1996 law attempting this was ruled unconstitutional by the Supreme Court in 1998 for violating the Presentment Clause, which requires bills to be presented intact.)
- Term Limits: Establishes fixed limits on congressional service, overturning the current lack of such restrictions (only informal norms or state-level rules exist for some offices).
- Tax Voting Threshold: Shifts from the current simple majority (over 50%) to a two-thirds supermajority for tax impositions or increases, similar to the existing requirement for overriding vetoes but applied proactively to tax bills. This also enforces a single-subject rule for tax legislation, preventing bundling with unrelated matters.
Potential Impacts
- On Government Agencies: Could lead to more disciplined federal budgeting, as the President gains tools to cut "pork-barrel" spending (local projects added to bills for political gain), potentially reducing agency funding unpredictably and increasing executive influence over appropriations.
- On Citizens: Term limits may increase electoral competition and fresh ideas in Congress but could reduce experienced lawmakers' expertise. Higher tax thresholds might limit government revenue growth, affecting public services like infrastructure or social programs, while protecting taxpayers from easier tax hikes.
- On International Relations: Minimal direct impact, though constrained federal spending could indirectly affect foreign aid or defense budgets, potentially influencing U.S. global commitments.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- President and Executive Branch: Gains veto authority over spending, shifting power dynamics with Congress.
- Members of Congress: Faces term limits, ending long careers for incumbents; tax provisions could make passing budgets harder, especially for revenue-dependent legislation.
- Citizens and Taxpayers: Benefits from potential fiscal restraint but may face challenges in funding government priorities if tax increases become rarer.
- State Governments: Plays a key role in ratification; successful amendments could influence state-federal fiscal relations by limiting national tax authority.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal/Constitutional: These amendments would fundamentally alter the separation of powers by enhancing executive veto capabilities and restricting legislative authority on tenure and taxes. Ratification requires no presidential approval but demands supermajority state support, testing federalism. Challenges could arise if seen as infringing on Article I's legislative processes.
- Political: Promotes anti-incumbent sentiment and fiscal conservatism, potentially reducing gridlock on spending but increasing it on taxes. Could lead to more frequent elections and diverse representation, though critics might argue it disrupts institutional knowledge. As a proposed constitutional change, it reflects ongoing debates over government reform without immediate enforceability until ratified.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Recent Actions
- 2025-01-08: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
- 2025-01-08: Introduced in Senate
Bill Versions
- 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. — issued 2025-01-08 — PDF (4 pages)