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107TH CONGRESS

2D SESSION H. J. RES. 85

Proposing an amendment to the Constitution to provide for a balanced budget

for the United States Government and for greater accountability in

the enactment of tax legislation.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

MARCH 12, 2002

Mr. BERRY (for himself, Mr. STENHOLM, Mr. BOSWELL, Mr. TAYLOR of Mississippi, Ms. HARMAN, Mr. JOHN, Mr. ROSS, Mr. SANDLIN, Mr. TURNER,

Mr. HALL of Texas, Mr. SCHIFF, and Mr. HILL) introduced the following

joint resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary

JOINT RESOLUTION

Proposing an amendment to the Constitution to provide for

a balanced budget for the United States Government

and for greater accountability in the enactment of tax

legislation.

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 any fiscal year shall

5 not exceed total receipts for that fiscal year, unless three6 fifths of the whole number of each House of Congress shall

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

8 by a rollcall vote.

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

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

11 three-fifths of the whole number of each House shall pro12 vide by law for an increase by a rollcall vote.

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

14 shall transmit to the Congress a proposed budget for the

15 United States Government for that fiscal year, in which

16 total outlays do not exceed total receipts.

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

18 law unless approved by a majority of the whole number

19 of each House by a rollcall vote.

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

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

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

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

24 engaged in military conflict which causes an imminent and

25 serious military threat to national security and is so de-
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1 clared by a joint resolution, adopted by three-fifths of the

2 whole number of each House, which becomes law.

3 ‘‘SECTION 6. The Congress shall enforce and imple4 ment this article by appropriate legislation, which may rely

5 on estimates of outlays and receipts.

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

7 of the United States Government except those derived

8 from borrowing and except receipts (including attributable

9 interest) of the Federal Old-Age and Survivors Insurance

10 Trust Fund and the Federal Disability Insurance Trust

11 Fund and any successor funds for which the total balance

12 of funds is not less than zero. Total outlays shall include

13 all outlays of the United States Government except for

14 those for repayment of debt principal and except outlays

15 of the Federal Old-Age and Survivors Insurance Trust

16 Fund and the Federal Disability Insurance Trust Fund

17 and any successor funds for which the total balance of

18 funds is not less than zero.

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

20 with fiscal year 2008 or with the second fiscal year begin21 ning after its ratification, whichever is later.’’

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