IA

103D CONGRESS

1ST SESSION H. J. RES. 115

Proposing a balanced budget and line-item veto amendment to the

Constitution of the United States.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

FEBRUARY 18, 1993

Mr. GRAMS introduced the following joint resolution; which was referred to the

Committee on the Judiciary

JOINT RESOLUTION

Proposing a balanced budget and line-item veto amendment

to the Constitution of the United States.

1 Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives

2 of the United States of America in Congress assembled (two3 thirds of each House concurring therein), That the follow4 ing article is proposed as an amendment to the Constitu5 tion of the United States, which shall be valid to all intents

6 and purposes as part of the Constitution when ratified by

7 the legislatures of three-fourths of the several States with-
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1 in seven years after the date of its submission for

2 ratification:

3 ‘‘ARTICLE —

4 ‘‘SECTION 1. Prior to each fiscal year, Congress shall

5 adopt a statement of receipts and outlays for such fiscal

6 year in which total outlays are not greater than total re7 ceipts. Congress may amend such statement provided re8 vised outlays are not greater than revised receipts. Con9 gress may provide in such statement for a specific excess

10 of outlays over receipts by a vote directed solely to that

11 subject in which three-fifths of the whole number of each

12 House agree to such excess. Congress and the President

13 shall ensure that actual outlays do not exceed the outlays

14 set forth in such statement.

15 ‘‘SECTION 2. Total receipts for any fiscal year set

16 forth in the statement adopted pursuant to the first sec17 tion of this Article shall not increase by a rate greater

18 than the rate of increase in national income in the second

19 prior fiscal year, unless a three-fifths majority of the whole

20 number of each House of Congress shall have passed a

21 bill directed solely to approving specific additional receipts

22 and such bill has become law.

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

24 shall transmit to Congress a proposed statement of re-
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1 ceipts and outlays for such fiscal year consistent with the

2 provisions of this Article.

3 ‘‘SECTION 4. Congress may waive the provisions of

4 this Article for any fiscal year in which a declaration of

5 war is in effect.

6 ‘‘SECTION 5. Total receipts shall include all receipts

7 of the United States except those derived from borrowing

8 and total outlays shall include all outlays of the United

9 States except those for the repayment of debt principal.

10 ‘‘SECTION 6. The amount of Federal public debt as

11 of the first day of the second fiscal year beginning after

12 the ratification of this Article shall become a permanent

13 limit on such debt and there shall be no increase in such

14 amount unless three-fifths of the whole number of each

15 House of Congress shall have passed a bill approving such

16 increase and such bill has become law.

17 ‘‘SECTION 7. The President shall have power, when

18 any bill, including any vote, resolution, or order, which

19 contains any item of spending authority, is presented to

20 him pursuant to section 7 of article I of this Constitution,

21 to separately approve, reduce, or disapprove any spending

22 provision, or part of any spending provision, contained

23 therein.

24 ‘‘When the President exercises this power, he shall

25 signify in writing such portions of the bill he has approved
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1 and which portions he has reduced. These portions, to the

2 extent not reduced, shall then become a law. The Presi3 dent shall return with his objections any disapproved or

4 reduced portions of a bill to the House in which the bill

5 originated. The Congress shall separately reconsider each

6 such returned portion of the bill in the manner prescribed

7 for disapproved bills in section 7 of article I of this Con8 stitution. Any portion of a bill which shall not have been

9 returned or approved by the President within ten days

10 (Sundays excepted) after it shall have been presented to

11 him shall become a law, unless the Congress by their ad12 journment prevent its return, in which case it shall not

13 become a law.

14 ‘‘SECTION 8. Items of spending authority are those

15 portions of a bill that appropriate money from the Treas16 ury or that otherwise authorize or limit the withdrawal

17 or obligation of money from the Treasury. Such items

18 shall include, without being limited to, items of appropria19 tions, spending authorizations, authority to borrow money

20 on the credit of the United States or otherwise, dedica21 tions of revenues, entitlements, uses of assets, insurance,

22 guarantees of borrowing, and any authority to incur obli23 gations.

24 ‘‘SECTION 9. Sections 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 of this Arti25 cle shall take effect for the fiscal year 1997 or for the
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1 second fiscal year beginning after its ratification, which2 ever is later. Sections 7 and 8 of this article shall take

3 effect upon ratification of this article.’’.

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