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105TH CONGRESS

1ST SESSION S. J. RES. 1

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

a balanced budget.

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

JANUARY 21, 1997

Mr. HATCH (for himself, Mr. LOTT, Mr. THURMOND, Mr. CRAIG, Mr. NICKLES, Mr. DOMENICI, Mr. STEVENS, Mr. ROTH, Mr. BRYAN, Mr. KOHL,

Mr. GRASSLEY, Mr. GRAHAM, Mr. SPECTER, Mr. BAUCUS, Mr. THOMPSON, Mr. BREAUX, Mr. KYL, Ms. MOSELEY-BRAUN, Mr. DEWINE, Mr.

ROBB, Mr. ABRAHAM, Mr. ASHCROFT, Mr. SESSIONS, Mr. D’AMATO, Mr.

HELMS, Mr. LUGAR, Mr. CHAFEE, Mr. MCCAIN, Mr. JEFFORDS, Mr.

WARNER, Mr. COVERDELL, Mr. COCHRAN, Mrs. HUTCHISON, Mr. MACK,

Mr. GRAMM, Ms. SNOWE, Mr. ALLARD, Mr. BROWNBACK, Ms. COLLINS,

Mr. ENZI, Mr. HAGEL, Mr. HUTCHINSON, Mr. ROBERTS, Mr. SMITH of

Oregon, Mr. BENNETT, Mr. BOND, Mr. BURNS, Mr. CAMPBELL, Mr.

COATS, Mr. FAIRCLOTH, Mr. FRIST, Mr. GORTON, Mr. GRAMS, Mr.

GREGG, Mr. INHOFE, Mr. KEMPTHORNE, Mr. MCCONNELL, Mr. MURKOWSKI, Mr. SANTORUM, Mr. SHELBY, Mr. SMITH of New Hampshire,

and Mr. THOMAS) 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 a balanced budget.

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 Con-
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1 stitution, which shall be valid to all intents and purposes

2 as part of the Constitution when ratified by the legisla3 tures of three-fourths of the several States within seven

4 years after the date of its submission to the States for

5 ratification:

6 ‘‘ARTICLE—

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

8 not exceed total receipts for that fiscal year, unless three9 fifths of the whole number of each House of Congress shall

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

11 by a rollcall vote.

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

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

14 three-fifths of the whole number of each House shall pro15 vide by law for such an increase by a rollcall vote.

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

17 shall transmit to the Congress a proposed budget for the

18 United States Government for that fiscal year, in which

19 total outlays do not exceed total receipts.

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

21 law unless approved by a majority of the whole number

22 of each House by a rollcall vote.

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

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

25 of war is in effect. The provisions of this article may be
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1 waived for any fiscal year in which the United States is

2 engaged in military conflict which causes an imminent and

3 serious military threat to national security and is so de4 clared by a joint resolution, adopted by a majority of the

5 whole number of each House, which becomes law.

6 ‘‘SECTION 6. The Congress shall enforce and imple7 ment this article by appropriate legislation, which may rely

8 on estimates of outlays and receipts.

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

10 of the United States Government except those derived

11 from borrowing. Total outlays shall include all outlays of

12 the United States Government except for those for repay13 ment of debt principal.

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

15 with fiscal year 2002 or with the second fiscal year begin16 ning after its ratification, whichever is later.’’.

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