II

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, and Mr. MACK) introduced the following joint

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

Judiciary

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 fol4 lowing article is proposed as an amendment to the Con5 stitution, which shall be valid to all intents and purposes

6 as part of the Constitution when ratified by the legisla-
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1 tures of three-fourths of the several States within seven

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

3 ratification:

4 ‘‘ARTICLE—

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

6 not exceed total receipts for that fiscal year, unless three7 fifths of the whole number of each House of Congress shall

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

9 by a rollcall vote.

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

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

12 three-fifths of the whole number of each House shall pro13 vide by law for such an increase by a rollcall vote.

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

15 shall transmit to the Congress a proposed budget for the

16 United States Government for that fiscal year, in which

17 total outlays do not exceed total receipts.

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

19 law unless approved by a majority of the whole number

20 of each House by a rollcall vote.

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

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

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

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

25 engaged in military conflict which causes an imminent and
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1 serious military threat to national security and is so de2 clared by a joint resolution, adopted by a majority of the

3 whole number of each House, which becomes law.

4 ‘‘SECTION 6. The Congress shall enforce and imple5 ment this article by appropriate legislation, which may rely

6 on estimates of outlays and receipts.

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

8 of the United States Government except those derived

9 from borrowing. Total outlays shall include all outlays of

10 the United States Government except for those for repay11 ment of debt principal.

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

13 with fiscal year 2002 or with the second fiscal year begin14 ning after its ratification, whichever is later.’’.

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