Calendar No. 16

104TH CONGRESS

1ST SESSION S. J. RES. 1

JOINT RESOLUTION

Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the

J

United States to require a balanced budget.

ANUARY 23 (legislative day, JANUARY 10), 1995

Reported without amendment
II

Calendar No. 16

104TH CONGRESS

1ST SESSION S. J. RES. 1

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

a balanced budget.

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

JANUARY 4, 1995

Mr. DOLE (for himself, Mr. HATCH, Mr. SIMON, Mr. THURMOND, Mr. HEFLIN, Mr. CRAIG, Ms. MOSELEY-BRAUN, Mr. BROWN, Mr. KOHL, Mr.

SIMPSON, Mr. GRASSLEY, Mr. SPECTER, Mr. KYL, Mrs. FEINSTEIN, Mr.

NICKLES, Mr. MURKOWSKI, Mr. BRYAN, Mrs. HUTCHISON, Mr. EXON,

Mr. SHELBY, Mr. CAMPBELL, Mr. SMITH, Mr. COHEN, Mr. PRESSLER,

Mr. GREGG, Mr. GORTON, Mr. ASHCROFT, Mr. BURNS, Mr. MCCONNELL, Mr. INHOFE, Mr. GRAMM, Mr. LOTT, Mr. DEWINE, Ms. SNOWE,

Mr. ROTH, Mr. LUGAR, Mr. BOND, Mr. THOMAS, Mr. COVERDELL, Mr.

SANTORUM, Mr. GRAMS, Mr. MACK, and Mr. WARNER) introduced the

following joint resolution; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary

JANUARY 23 (legislative day, JANUARY 10), 1995

Reported by Mr. HATCH, without amendment

JOINT RESOLUTION

Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United

States to require a balanced budget.

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 fol-
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•SJ 1 RS

1 lowing article is proposed as an amendment to the Con2 stitution, which shall be valid to all intents and purposes

3 as part of the Constitution when ratified by the legisla4 tures of three-fourths of the several States within seven

5 years after the date of its submission to the States for

6 ratification:

7 ‘‘ARTICLE—

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

9 not exceed total receipts for that fiscal year, unless three10 fifths of the whole number of each House of Congress shall

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

12 by a rollcall vote.

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

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

15 three-fifths of the whole number of each House shall pro16 vide by law for such an increase by a rollcall vote.

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

18 shall transmit to the Congress a proposed budget for the

19 United States Government for that fiscal year, in which

20 total outlays do not exceed total receipts.

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

22 law unless approved by a majority of the whole number

23 of each House by a rollcall vote.

24 ‘‘SECTION 5. 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.

7 ‘‘SECTION 6. The Congress shall enforce and imple8 ment this article by appropriate legislation, which may rely

9 on estimates of outlays and receipts.

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

11 of the United States Government except those derived

12 from borrowing. Total outlays shall include all outlays of

13 the United States Government except for those for repay14 ment of debt principal.

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

16 with fiscal year 2002 or with the second fiscal year begin17 ning after its ratification, whichever is later.’’.