IA

106TH CONGRESS

1ST SESSION H. J. RES. 1

Proposing an amendment to the Constitution to provide for a balanced budget

for the United States Government and for greater accountability in

the enactment of tax legislation.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

JANUARY 6, 1999

Mr. SCHAFFER (for himself, Mr. STENHOLM, Mr. CASTLE, Mr. TANCREDO,

Mr. ANDREWS, Mr. BALLENGER, Mr. BASS, Mr. BACHUS, Mr. BARR of

Georgia, Mr. BARRETT of Nebraska, Mr. BARTLETT of Maryland, Mr.

BEREUTER, Mr. BONILLA, Mr. BILIRAKIS, Mr. BOYD, Mr. BRYANT, Mr.

BURTON of Indiana, Mr. CALLAHAN, Mr. CAMPBELL, Mr. CHABOT, Mr.

CHAMBLISS, Mr. CONDIT, Mr. CUNNINGHAM, Mr. DUNCAN, Mr. EHRLICH, Mr. ENGLISH, Mr. FOLEY, Mr. FORBES, Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN,

Mr. GALLEGLY, Ms. GRANGER, Mr. GREENWOOD, Mr. GOODE, Mr.

GOODLING, Mr. GOSS, Mr. HALL of Texas, Mr. HANSEN, Mr. HERGER,

Mr. HEFLEY, Mr. HOEKSTRA, Mr. HORN, Mr. KASICH, Mrs. KELLY, Mr.

KOLBE, Mr. LATHAM, Mr. LAHOOD, Mr. LEACH, Mr. LEWIS of Kentucky, Mr. LUCAS of Oklahoma, Mr. MCCOLLUM, Mr. MCINNIS, Mr.

MCKEON, Mr. MEEHAN, Mr. MILLER of Florida, Mr. MINGE, Mrs.

MYRICK, Mr. NETHERCUTT, Mr. NEY, Mr. PITTS, Mr. RADANOVICH, Mr.

RILEY, Mr. ROGAN, Mr. ROYCE, Mr. RYUN of Kansas, Mr. SALMON, Mr.

SCARBOROUGH, Mr. SESSIONS, Mr. SHAYS, Mr. SHIMKUS, Mr. SKEEN,

Mr. SMITH of Texas, Mr. STEARNS, Mr. STUMP, Mr. TANNER, Mr. TAYLOR of North Carolina, Mr. THUNE, Mr. WALDEN of Oregon, and Mr.

WATTS of Oklahoma) introduced the following joint resolution; which was

referred to the Committee on the Judiciary

JOINT RESOLUTION

Proposing an amendment to the Constitution to provide for

a balanced budget for the United States Government
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and for greater accountability in the enactment of tax

legislation.

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 for ratification:

10 ‘‘ARTICLE—

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

12 not exceed total receipts for that fiscal year, unless three13 fifths of the whole number of each House of Congress shall

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

15 by a rollcall vote.

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

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

18 three-fifths of the whole number of each House shall pro19 vide by law for such an increase by a rollcall vote.

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

21 shall transmit to the Congress a proposed budget for the

22 United States Government for that fiscal year, in which

23 total outlays do not exceed total receipts.
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1 ‘‘SECTION 4. No bill to increase revenue shall become

2 law unless approved by a majority of the whole number

3 of each House by a rollcall vote.

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

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

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

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

8 engaged in military conflict which causes an imminent and

9 serious military threat to national security and is so de10 clared by a joint resolution, adopted by a majority of the

11 whole number of each House, which becomes law.

12 ‘‘SECTION 6. The Congress shall enforce and imple13 ment this article by appropriate legislation, which may rely

14 on estimates of outlays and receipts.

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

16 of the United States Government except those derived

17 from borrowing. Total outlays shall include all outlays of

18 the United States Government except for those for repay19 ment of debt principal.

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

21 with fiscal year 2002 or with the second fiscal year begin22 ning after its ratification, whichever is later.’’.

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