IA 

115TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. J. RES. 1 

Proposing a balanced budget amendment to the Constitution of the United 

States. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

JANUARY 3, 2017 

Mr. GOODLATTE (for himself, Mr. NEWHOUSE, Mr. SMITH of Texas, Mr. CULBERSON, and Mr. FARENTHOLD) submitted the following joint resolution; 

which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary 

JOINT RESOLUTION 

Proposing a balanced budget 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

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: 


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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. Total outlays for any fiscal year shall 

8 not exceed one-fifth of economic output of the United 

9 States, unless two-thirds of each House of Congress shall 

10 provide for a specific increase of outlays above this 

11 amount. 

12 ‘‘SECTION 3. 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 4. 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 5. A bill to increase revenue shall not be21 come law unless three-fifths of the whole number of each 

22 House shall provide by law for such an increase by a roll23 call vote. 

24 ‘‘SECTION 6. The Congress may waive the provisions 

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


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

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

3 engaged in military conflict which causes an imminent and 

4 serious military threat to national security and is so de5 clared by a joint resolution, adopted by a majority of the 

6 whole number of each House, which becomes law. Any 

7 such waiver must identify and be limited to the specific 

8 excess or increase for that fiscal year made necessary by 

9 the identified military conflict. 

10 ‘‘SECTION 7. The Congress shall enforce and imple11 ment this article by appropriate legislation, which may rely 

12 on estimates of outlays and receipts. 

13 ‘‘SECTION 8. Total receipts shall include all receipts 

14 of the United States Government except those derived 

15 from borrowing. Total outlays shall include all outlays of 

16 the United States Government except for those for repay17 ment of debt principal. 

18 ‘‘SECTION 9. This article shall take effect beginning 

19 with the fifth fiscal year beginning after its ratification.’’. 

Æ 


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