IA 

113TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. J. RES. 2 

Proposing a balanced budget amendment to the Constitution of the United 

States. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

JANUARY 3, 2013 

Mr. GOODLATTE (for himself, Mr. DEFAZIO, Mr. BACHUS, Mr. BOUSTANY, 

Mr. BUCHANAN, Mr. CHABOT, Mr. CHAFFETZ, Mr. COBLE, Mr. 

CRAWFORD, Mr. AMODEI, Mr. DIAZ-BALART, Mr. FRANKS of Arizona, 

Mr. GERLACH, Mr. GRIFFITH of Virginia, Mr. HUIZENGA of Michigan, 

Mr. JONES, Mr. LANCE, Mr. LUETKEMEYER, Mr. MULVANEY, Mr. 

NUGENT, Mr. POSEY, Mr. HURT, Mr. CULBERSON, Mr. ROE of Tennessee, Mr. DUNCAN of Tennessee, Mr. HULTGREN, Mr. LAMBORN, Mr. 

HARPER, Mr. CONAWAY, Mr. WALDEN, Mrs. CAPITO, Mr. SHUSTER, Mr. 

KING of Iowa, Mr. MARINO, Mr. SCHOCK, Mr. GARRETT, Mr. WOLF, Mr. 

SENSENBRENNER, Mr. COLLINS of Georgia, Mr. MILLER of Florida, Mr. 

PRICE of Georgia, Mr. ROSKAM, Mr. SMITH of Texas, Mr. STIVERS, Mr. 

WALBERG, Mr. WILSON of South Carolina, Mrs. BLACK, Mr. COFFMAN, 

Mr. LABRADOR, Mrs. BLACKBURN, Mr. THORNBERRY, Mr. PETRI, Mrs. 

MCMORRIS RODGERS, Mr. OLSON, Mr. BILIRAKIS, Mr. BONNER, Mr. 

YODER, Mr. WESTMORELAND, Mrs. MILLER of Michigan, Mr. DUNCAN

of South Carolina, Mr. POE of Texas, Mr. GARY G. MILLER of California, 

Mr. DENT, Mr. PALAZZO, Mr. MCKINLEY, Mr. ROGERS of Michigan, Mr. 

CALVERT, Mrs. ELLMERS, Mr. FITZPATRICK, Mr. PEARCE, Mr. NEUGEBAUER, Mr. GIBBS, Mr. FORTENBERRY, and Mr. BROUN of Georgia) 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

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 

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. The limit on the debt of the United 

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

18 three-fifths of the whole number of each House shall pro19 vide by law for such an increase by a rollcall vote. 

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

21 shall transmit to the Congress a proposed budget for the 

22 United States Government for that fiscal year in which 

23 total outlays do not exceed total receipts. 


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

2 law unless approved by a majority of the whole number 

3 of each House by a rollcall vote. 

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

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

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

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

8 engaged in military conflict which causes an imminent and 

9 serious military threat to national security and is so de10 clared by a joint resolution, adopted by a majority of the 

11 whole number of each House, which becomes law. Any 

12 such waiver must identify and be limited to the specific 

13 excess or increase for that fiscal year made necessary by 

14 the identified military conflict. 

15 ‘‘SECTION 6. The Congress shall enforce and imple16 ment this article by appropriate legislation, which may rely 

17 on estimates of outlays and receipts. 

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

19 of the United States Government except those derived 

20 from borrowing. Total outlays shall include all outlays of 

21 the United States Government except for those for repay22 ment of debt principal. 

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

24 with the fifth fiscal year beginning after its ratification.’’. 

Æ 


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