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HJRES 6 · 119th CongressIn Committee
Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States to provide for balanced budgets for the Government.
Latest updateJan 3, 2025
Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
Economics and Public Finance
Sponsor
Brian Fitzpatrick
Introduced
January 3, 2025
Latest action
January 3, 2025
Legislative Progress
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Latest Action
Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
Plain-Language Summary
AI GeneratedThe federal government currently operates without a constitutional requirement to balance its budget. Congress passes annual spending bills that frequently exceed revenues collected through taxes and other sources, resulting in deficit spending. While various laws require the President to submit balanced budget proposals and Congress to consider deficit reduction, these requirements lack constitutional force and are routinely overridden through legislative action. The government has run deficits in most years since the 1960s, accumulating a national debt exceeding $33 trillion.
This joint resolution proposes a constitutional amendment requiring total federal spending to not exceed total revenues in any fiscal year, unless Congress approves the excess by a two-thirds supermajority vote in both chambers through rollcall voting. The President would be required to submit a balanced budget proposal to Congress each year. The amendment includes three narrow exceptions: Congress may waive the requirement during declared wars by rollcall vote, during declared national emergencies by majority vote through joint resolution, or during declared natural disasters by majority vote through joint resolution. Congress retains authority to enforce the amendment through legislation, which may rely on estimates of spending and revenues rather than final accounting.
The amendment would take effect beginning with the fifth fiscal year after ratification by three-fourths of state legislatures—a process that typically requires several years. Implementation would require Congress to either reduce spending, increase revenues, or invoke one of the three exceptions for any year projected to run a deficit. The amendment does not specify enforcement mechanisms or penalties for violations beyond the constitutional requirement itself. Downstream effects would likely include pressure to restructure entitlement programs, defense spending, and tax policy, though the supermajority requirement and emergency exceptions provide flexibility for responding to economic crises or military needs.
Key Provisions
- 1Require total federal outlays to not exceed total receipts for each fiscal year unless Congress approves deficit spending by two-thirds supermajority rollcall vote in both chambers.
- 2Direct the President to submit a balanced budget proposal to Congress prior to each fiscal year that does not exceed projected revenues.
- 3Authorize Congress to waive the balanced budget requirement during declared wars, national emergencies, or natural disasters through specified voting procedures.
- 4Establish that the amendment takes effect beginning with the fifth fiscal year after ratification by three-fourths of state legislatures.
- 5Permit Congress to enforce the amendment through legislation that may rely on estimates of outlays and receipts rather than final accounting.
★ Why this matters
If ratified, this amendment would fundamentally restructure federal budgeting by making deficit spending constitutionally difficult rather than routine. Congress would face hard choices annually: reduce spending, increase revenues, or invoke emergency exceptions. The supermajority requirement means deficit budgets would require broader political consensus than current simple-majority passage. Economic recessions, wars, and natural disasters could trigger temporary waivers, but routine deficits would become legally prohibited.
● Who this affects
Federal employees and contractors would face potential hiring freezes or furloughs during deficit years. Medicare beneficiaries and Social Security recipients could see benefit adjustments or eligibility changes if spending cuts target entitlements. Defense contractors and military personnel would experience budget uncertainty. Low-income Americans relying on federal assistance programs, veterans receiving Department of Veterans Affairs benefits, and state governments dependent on federal grants would all face reduced funding. Taxpayers could see tax increases as an alternative to spending cuts. Financial markets and bond investors would experience changed dynamics for U.S. Treasury securities.
Bill Text
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<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>Party Positions
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Cosponsor data and vote records sourced from Congress.gov. Reflects formal legislative actions only.