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105TH CONGRESS

1ST SESSION S. J. RES. 12

Proposing a balanced budget constitutional amendment.

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

JANUARY 28, 1997

Mr. DORGAN (for himself, Mr. DASCHLE, Mr. REID, Mrs. FEINSTEIN, Mr.

FORD, Mr. HOLLINGS, and Mr. WYDEN) introduced the following joint

resolution; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on the

Judiciary

JOINT RESOLUTION

Proposing a balanced budget constitutional amendment.

1 Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives

2 of the United States of America in Congress assembled

3 (two-thirds of each House concurring therein), That the fol4 lowing article is proposed as an amendment to the Con5 stitution of the United States, which shall be valid to all

6 intents and purposes as part of the Constitution when

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

8 States within seven years after the date of its submission

9 to the States for ratification:
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1 ‘‘ARTICLE—

2 ‘‘SECTION 1. Total outlays for any fiscal year shall

3 not exceed total receipts for that fiscal year, unless three4 fifths of the whole number of each House of Congress shall

5 provide by law for a specific excess of outlays over receipts

6 by a rollcall vote.

7 ‘‘SECTION 2. The limit on the debt of the United

8 States held by the public shall not be increased, unless

9 three-fifths of the whole number of each House shall pro10 vide by law for such an increase by a rollcall vote.

11 ‘‘SECTION 3. Prior to each fiscal year, the President

12 shall transmit to the Congress a proposed budget for the

13 United States Government for that fiscal year in which

14 total outlays do not exceed total receipts.

15 ‘‘SECTION 4. No bill to increase revenue shall become

16 law unless approved by a majority of the whole number

17 of each House by a rollcall vote.

18 ‘‘SECTION 5. The Congress may waive the provisions

19 of this article for any fiscal year in which a declaration

20 of war is in effect. The provisions of this article may be

21 waived for any fiscal year in which the United States is

22 engaged in military conflict which causes an imminent and

23 serious military threat to national security and is so de24 clared by a joint resolution, adopted by a majority of the

25 whole number of each House, which becomes law.
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1 ‘‘SECTION 6. The Congress shall enforce and imple2 ment this article by appropriate legislation, which may rely

3 on estimates of outlays and receipts.

4 ‘‘SECTION 7. Total receipts shall include all receipts

5 of the United States Government except those derived

6 from borrowing. Total outlays shall include all outlays of

7 the United States Government except for those for repay8 ment of debt principal. The receipts (including attrib9 utable interest) and outlays of the Federal Old-Age and

10 Survivors Insurance and the Federal Disability Insurance

11 Trust Funds (as and if modified to preserve the solvency

12 of the Funds) used to provide old age, survivors, and dis13 abilities benefits shall not be counted as receipts or outlays

14 for purposes of this article.

15 ‘‘SECTION 8. This article shall take effect beginning

16 with fiscal year 2002 or with the second fiscal year begin17 ning after its ratification, whichever is later.’’.

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