Bill Summary
This legislation is a proposed amendment to the U.S. Constitution that would require a balanced budget, meaning that total expenditures for a fiscal year cannot exceed total receipts. However, in the event of a national emergency, Congress can authorize expenditures that exceed the balanced budget. The President is also required to submit a proposed budget before each fiscal year, and failure to do so could result in executive actions being overturned by a simple majority vote of Congress. Additionally, any increase in the public debt must be approved by a two-thirds vote of Congress. This amendment would take effect in the tenth fiscal year after its ratification and can be enforced by Congress through appropriate legislation.
Possible Impacts
1. If the proposed amendment is ratified by the necessary number of states, it could potentially limit the federal government's ability to spend beyond its means, which could affect the availability of government programs and services for citizens.
2. In the event of a national emergency, the government may have more flexibility to authorize spending beyond the balanced budget limit, potentially impacting the distribution of resources and funds during a crisis.
3. The requirement for the President to submit a proposed budget to Congress could result in more transparency and accountability in government spending, potentially affecting the priorities and allocation of funds for different programs and initiatives.
[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.J. Res. 68 Introduced in House (IH)]
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116th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. J. RES. 68
Proposing a balanced budget amendment to the Constitution of the United
States.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
June 20, 2019
Mr. Green of Tennessee submitted the following joint resolution; which
was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary
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JOINT RESOLUTION
Proposing a balanced budget amendment to the Constitution of the United
States.
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. Total expenditures for any fiscal year shall not
exceed total receipts for that fiscal year. Such total expenditures do
not include those for repayment of debt principal and such total
receipts may not include those derived from borrowing.
``Section 2. For a national emergency, two-thirds of each House of
Congress may for limited times authorize expenditures exceeding those
pursuant to rules established under section 1. Debts incurred from such
expenditures shall be paid as soon as practicable.
``Section 3. Before each fiscal year, the President shall transmit
to the Congress a proposed budget for such fiscal year for the
Government in which total expenditures do not exceed total receipts. If
the President fails to perform the duty imposed by this section, any
executive actions may be unilaterally overturned by a simple majority
vote of each House of Congress until the date on which the President
submits the proposed budget to Congress.
``Section 4. The limit on the debt of the United States held by the
public shall not be increased unless two-thirds of each House of
Congress provides by law for such an increase by a roll-call vote.
``Section 5. For purposes of section 2, a national emergency occurs
whenever a declaration of war is in effect or whenever Congress adopts
a concurrent resolution declaring a national emergency.
``Section 6. Congress shall have power to enforce this article by
appropriate legislation.
``Section 7. This article shall take effect beginning with the
tenth fiscal year after its ratification.''.
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