IA 

112TH 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 5, 2011 

Mr. GOODLATTE (for himself, Mr. HENSARLING, Mr. KINGSTON, Mr. SMITH

of Texas, Mr. COFFMAN of Colorado, Mr. AKIN, Mr. ALEXANDER, Mrs. 

BACHMANN, Mr. BACHUS, Mr. BILBRAY, Mr. BRADY of Texas, Mr. 

BROOKS, Mr. BROUN of Georgia, Mr. BURGESS, Mr. BURTON of Indiana, 

Mr. CAMPBELL, Mr. CARTER, Mr. CHAFFETZ, Mr. CONAWAY, Mr. 

CRAWFORD, Mr. DENT, Mr. DUNCAN of Tennessee, Mrs. EMERSON, Mr. 

FLEMING, Mr. FORBES, Mr. FRANKS of Arizona, Mr. GALLEGLY, Mr. 

GARDNER, Mr. GOHMERT, Mr. GRIFFITH of Virginia, Mr. HALL, Mr. 

HERGER, Mr. HULTGREN, Mr. HURT, Mr. ISSA, Mr. JORDAN, Mr. KING

of Iowa, Mr. LAMBORN, Mr. LANCE, Mr. LATTA, Mr. LUETKEMEYER, 

Mr. MACK, Mr. MANZULLO, Mr. MCCAUL, Mr. MCCLINTOCK, Mr. 

MCHENRY, Mrs. MCMORRIS RODGERS, Mr. MILLER of Florida, Mrs. 

MILLER of Michigan, Mrs. MYRICK, Mr. NEUGEBAUER, Mr. NUGENT, 

Mr. OLSON, Mr. PENCE, Mr. PLATTS, Mr. POE of Texas, Mr. POSEY, 

Mr. REHBERG, Mr. RIGELL, Mr. ROE of Tennessee, Mr. ROGERS of Kentucky, Mr. ROSKAM, Mr. ROSS of Florida, Mr. ROYCE, Mr. SCALISE, Mr. 

SENSENBRENNER, Mr. SESSIONS, Mr. SULLIVAN, Mr. THOMPSON of 

Pennsylvania, Mr. UPTON, Mr. WESTMORELAND, Mr. WILSON of South 

Carolina, Mr. WITTMAN, Mr. YOUNG of Alaska, Ms. FOXX, Mr. RIBBLE, 

Mrs. BLACKBURN, Mr. FARENTHOLD, Mr. GRAVES of Missouri, Mr. 

PEARCE, Mr. PITTS, Mr. POMPEO, Mr. BARTLETT, Mr. GARRETT, and 

Mr. CHABOT) introduced 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. 


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1 Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives 

2 of the United States of America in Congress assembled (two3 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: 

10 ‘‘ARTICLE— 

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

12 not exceed total receipts for that fiscal year, unless three13 fifths of the whole number of each House of Congress shall 

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

15 by a rollcall vote. 

16 ‘‘SECTION 2. Total outlays for any fiscal year shall 

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

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

19 provide for a specific increase of outlays above this 

20 amount. 

21 ‘‘SECTION 3. The limit on the debt of the United 

22 States held by the public shall not be increased unless 

23 three-fifths of the whole number of each House shall pro24 vide by law for such an increase by a rollcall vote. 


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1 ‘‘SECTION 4. Prior to each fiscal year, the President 

2 shall transmit to the Congress a proposed budget for the 

3 United States Government for that fiscal year in which 

4 total outlays do not exceed total receipts. 

5 ‘‘SECTION 5. A bill to increase revenue shall not be6 come law unless three-fifths of the whole number of each 

7 House shall provide by law for such an increase by a roll8 call vote. 

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

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

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

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

13 engaged in military conflict which causes an imminent and 

14 serious military threat to national security and is so de15 clared by a joint resolution, adopted by a majority of the 

16 whole number of each House, which becomes law. 

17 ‘‘SECTION 7. The Congress shall enforce and imple18 ment this article by appropriate legislation, which may rely 

19 on estimates of outlays and receipts. 

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

21 of the United States Government except those derived 

22 from borrowing. Total outlays shall include all outlays of 

23 the United States Government except for those for repay24 ment of debt principal. 


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

2 with the later of the second fiscal year beginning after its 

3 ratification or the first fiscal year beginning after Decem4 ber 31, 2016.’’. 

Æ 


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