IIA 

116TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION S. J. RES. 19 

Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States to require 

(except during time of war and subject to suspension by Congress) 

that the total amount of money expended by the United States during 

any fiscal year not exceed the amount of certain revenue received by 

the United States during such fiscal year and not exceed 20 percent 

of the gross domestic product of the United States during the previous 

calendar year. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

MAY 2, 2019 

Mr. SHELBY introduced the following joint resolution; which was read twice 

and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary 

JOINT RESOLUTION 

Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United 

States to require (except during time of war and subject 

to suspension by Congress) that the total amount of 

money expended by the United States during any fiscal 

year not exceed the amount of certain revenue received 

by the United States during such fiscal year and not 

exceed 20 percent of the gross domestic product of the 

United States during the previous calendar year. 

Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives 

2 of the United States of America in Congress assembled


pbinns on DSK79D2C42PROD with BILLS
2 

•SJ 19 IS 

1 (two-thirds of each House concurring therein), That the fol2 lowing article is proposed as an amendment to the Con3 stitution of the United States, which shall be valid to all 

4 intents and purposes as part of the Constitution when 

5 ratified by the legislatures of three-fourths of the several 

6 States within seven years after the date of its submission 

7 by the Congress: 

8 ‘‘ARTICLE— 

9 ‘‘SECTION 1. The total amount of money expended 

10 by the United States in any fiscal year shall not exceed 

11 the total amount of revenue received by the United States 

12 during such fiscal year, excluding revenue received from 

13 the issuance of bonds, notes, or other obligations of the 

14 United States. 

15 ‘‘SECTION 2. The total amount of money expended 

16 by the United States in any fiscal year shall not exceed 

17 the amount equal to 20 percent of the gross domestic 

18 product of the United States during the last calendar year 

19 ending before the beginning of such fiscal year. 

20 ‘‘SECTION 3. Sections 1 and 2 of this article shall 

21 not apply during any fiscal year during any part of which 

22 the United States is at war, as declared by Congress under 

23 section 8 of article I of the Constitution of the United 

24 States. 


pbinns on DSK79D2C42PROD with BILLS
3 

•SJ 19 IS 

1 ‘‘SECTION 4. Sections 1 and 2 of this article may be 

2 suspended by a concurrent resolution approved by a three3 fifths vote of the Members of each House of Congress. 

4 Any suspension of sections 1 and 2 of this article under 

5 this section shall be effective only during the fiscal year 

6 during which such suspension is approved. 

7 ‘‘SECTION 5. This article shall take effect on the first 

8 day of the first fiscal year beginning after the date of the 

9 ratification of this article. 

10 ‘‘SECTION 6. Congress shall have the power to en11 force this article by appropriate legislation.’’. 

Æ 


pbinns on DSK79D2C42PROD with BILLS