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103D CONGRESS

1ST SESSION H. J. RES. 54

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

for a balanced budget for the United States Government and for greater

accountability in the enactment of tax legislation and to allow an item

veto of appropriation bills.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

JANUARY 5, 1993

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

the Committee on the Judiciary

JOINT RESOLUTION

Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United

States to provide for a balanced budget for the United

States Government and for greater accountability in the

enactment of tax legislation and to allow an item veto

of appropriation bills.

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 in all
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1 intents and purposes as part of the Constitution if ratified

2 by the legislatures of three-fourths of the several States

3 within seven years after its submission to the States for

4 ratification:

5 ‘‘ARTICLE—

6 ‘‘SECTION 1. Prior to each fiscal year, the Congress

7 and the President shall agree on an estimate of total re8 ceipts for that fiscal year by enactment into law of a joint

9 resolution devoted soley to that subject. Total outlays for

10 that year shall not exceed the level of estimated receipts

11 set forth in such joint resolution, unless two-thirds of the

12 total membership of each House of Congress shall provide,

13 by a rollcall vote, for a specific excess of outlays over esti14 mated receipts.

15 ‘‘SECTION 2. The public debt of the United States

16 shall not be increased unless two-thirds of the total mem17 bership of each House shall provide by law for such an

18 increase by a rollcall vote.

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

20 shall transmit to the Congress a proposed budget for the

21 United States Government for that fiscal year in which

22 total outlays do not exceed total receipts.

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

24 law unless approved by two-thirds of the total membership

25 of each House by a rollcall vote.
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1 ‘‘SECTION 5. The provisions of this article are waived

2 for any fiscal year in which a declaration of war is in ef3 fect.

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

5 of the United States except those derived from borrowing.

6 Total outlays shall include all outlays of the United States

7 except for those for repayment of the debt principal.

8 ‘‘SECTION 7. The President shall have the power to

9 disapprove any appropriation or provision and approve any

10 other appropriation or provision in the same appropriation

11 bill. In such case he shall, in signing the bill, designate

12 the appropriations and provisions disapproved, and shall

13 return a copy of such appropriations and provisions, with

14 his objections, to the House in which the bill shall have

15 orginated; and the same proceedings shall then be had as

16 in the case of other bills disapproved by the President.

17 ‘‘SECTION 8. Sections 1 through 6 of this article shall

18 take effect beginning with the second fiscal year beginning

19 after its ratification and section 7 of this article shall take

20 effect upon ratification.’’.

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