II

104TH CONGRESS

2D SESSION S. J. RES. 54

Proposing a balanced budget constitutional amendment.

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

MAY 2, 1996

Mr. WYDEN (for himself, Mr. DORGAN, Mr. DASCHLE, Mr. REID, Mr. FORD,

and Mr. HOLLINGS) introduced the following joint resolution; which was

read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary

JOINT RESOLUTION

Proposing a balanced budget constitutional amendment.

1 Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives

2 of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

3 That the following article is proposed as an amendment

4 to the Constitution of the United States, which shall be

5 valid to all intents and purposes as part of the Constitu6 tion when ratified by the legislatures of three-fourths of

7 the several States within seven years after the date of its

8 submission to the States for ratification:

9 ‘‘ARTICLE —

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

11 not exceed total receipts for that fiscal year, unless three-
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1 fifths of the whole number of each House of Congress shall

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

3 by a rollcall vote.

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

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

6 three-fifths of the whole number of each House shall pro7 vide by law for such an increase by a rollcall vote.

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

9 shall transmit to the Congress a proposed budget for the

10 United States Government for that fiscal year in which

11 total outlays do not exceed total receipts.

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

13 law unless approved by a majority of the whole number

14 of each House by a rollcall vote.

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

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

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

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

19 engaged in military conflict which causes an imminent and

20 serious military threat to national security and is so de21 clared by a joint resolution, adopted by a majority of the

22 whole number of each House, which becomes law.

23 ‘‘SECTION 6. The Congress shall enforce and imple24 ment this article by appropriate legislation, which may rely

25 on estimates of outlays and receipts. The judicial power
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1 of the United States shall not extend to any case or con2 troversy arising under this article except as may be specifi3 cally authorized by legislation adopted pursuant to this

4 section.

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

6 of the United States Government except those derived

7 from borrowing. Total outlays shall include all outlays of

8 the United States Government except for those for repay9 ment of debt principal. The receipts (including attrib10 utable interest) and outlays of the Federal Old-Age and

11 Survivors Insurance and the Federal Disability Insurance

12 Trust Funds (as and if modified to preserve the solvency

13 of the Funds) used to provide old age, survivors, and dis14 abilities benefits shall not be counted as receipts or outlays

15 for purposes of this article.

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

17 with fiscal year 2002 or with the second fiscal year begin18 ning after its ratification, whichever is later.’’.

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