IA 

112TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. J. RES. 81 

Proposing a balanced budget amendment to the Constitution of the United 

States. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

OCTOBER 14, 2011 

Mr. AMASH (for himself, Mr. BUCSHON, Mr. CAMPBELL, Mr. DUNCAN of 

South Carolina, Mr. GARDNER, Mr. GOSAR, Mr. LIPINSKI, Mr. 

MULVANEY, Mr. POLIS, Mr. WOODALL, Mr. LABRADOR, Mr. WALBERG, 

Mr. GOWDY, Mr. WALSH of Illinois, Mr. POMPEO, Mr. GRAVES of Georgia, Mr. QUIGLEY, Mr. LOEBSACK, Mr. SHULER, Mr. RIBBLE, Mr. 

MICHAUD, Mr. HUELSKAMP, Mr. SCHRADER, Mr. SOUTHERLAND, Mr. 

ROKITA, Mr. YODER, Mr. STUTZMAN, Mr. NUGENT, Mr. BURTON of Indiana, Mr. CULBERSON, and Mr. MORAN) 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. 

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 

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1 States within seven years after the date of its submission 

2 for ratification: 

3 ‘‘ARTICLE— 

4 ‘‘SECTION 1. Total outlays for a year shall not exceed 

5 the average annual revenue collected in the three prior 

6 years, adjusted in proportion to changes in population and 

7 inflation. Total outlays shall include all outlays of the 

8 United States except those for payment of debt, and rev9 enue shall include all revenue of the United States except 

10 that derived from borrowing. 

11 ‘‘SECTION 2. Two-thirds of each House of Congress 

12 may by roll call vote declare an emergency and provide 

13 by law for specific outlays in excess of the limit in section 

14 1. The declaration shall specify reasons for the emergency 

15 designation and shall limit the period in which outlays 

16 may exceed the limit in section 1 to no longer than one 

17 year. 

18 ‘‘SECTION 3. All revenue in excess of outlays shall 

19 reduce the debt of the United States. Upon the retirement 

20 of such debt, revenue in excess of outlays shall be held 

21 by the Treasury to be used as specified in section 2. 

22 ‘‘SECTION 4. The Congress shall have power to en23 force and implement this article by appropriate legislation. 

24 ‘‘SECTION 5. This article shall take effect in the first 

25 year beginning at least 90 days following ratification, exmstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with BILLS

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1 cept that outlays shall not surpass the sum of the limit 

2 described in section 1 and the following portion of the 

3 prior year’s outlays exceeding that limit (excepting emer4 gency outlays as provided for in section 2): nine-tenths 

5 in the first year, eight-ninths in the second, seven-eighths 

6 in the third, six-sevenths in the fourth, five-sixths in the 

7 fifth, four-fifths in the sixth, three-fourths in the seventh, 

8 two-thirds in the eighth, one-half in the ninth, and the 

9 limit shall bind in the tenth year and thereafter.’’. 

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