Proposing a balanced budget amendment to the Constitution of the United States

That the following article is proposed as an amendment to the Constitution of the United States, which shall be valid to all intents and purposes as part of the Constitution when ratified by the legislatures of three-fourths of the several States within seven years after the date of its submission for ratification: Total outlays for any fiscal year shall not exceed total receipts for that fiscal year, unless three-fifths of the whole number of each House of Congress shall provide by law for a specific excess of outlays over receipts by a roll call vote. The total outlays of the United States in any fiscal year shall not exceed the amount equal to 18 percent of the gross domestic product of the United States during the last calendar year ending before the beginning of such fiscal year, unless of the whole number of each House by a roll call vote approve a higher level of outlays. Prior to each fiscal year, the President shall transmit to the Congress a proposed budget for the United States Government for the fiscal year beginning in that calendar year in which total estimated outlays of the operating funds of the United States for that fiscal year shall not exceed total estimated receipts to those funds for that fiscal year. Each House of Congress shall approve a budget that is in compliance with section 1. If a House of Congress fails to approve such a budget, the Members who serve in that House may not receive any compensation for their service. No bill to increase or suspend the statutory limit on the public debt shall become law unless approved by of the whole number of each House by a roll call vote. No bill to increase revenue shall become law unless approved by of the whole number of each House by a roll call vote. The Congress may waive the provisions of this article for any fiscal year in which a declaration of war is in effect. The provisions of this article may be waived for any fiscal year in which the United States is engaged in military conflict which causes an imminent and serious military threat to national security and is so declared by a joint resolution, adopted by a majority of the whole number of each House, which becomes law. Any such waiver must identify and be limited to the specific excess or increase for that fiscal year made necessary by the identified military conflict. The Congress shall enforce and implement this article by appropriate legislation, which may rely on estimates of outlays and receipts, and which shall provide such criteria as may be necessary to carry out the ban on the receipt of compensation by Members who serve in a House of Congress that does not approve a budget that is in compliance with section 1, as set forth under section 4. This article shall take effect beginning with the second fiscal year beginning after its ratification. A Senator or Representative may, in a civil action in a court established by or under article 3 of this Constitution, obtain appropriate relief to enforce this amendment. Total receipts shall include all receipts of the United States Government except those derived from borrowing. Total outlays shall include all outlays of the United States Government except for those for repayment of debt principal.

Summary: Constitutional Amendment  This joint resolution proposes a constitutional amendment prohibiting total outlays for a fiscal year from exceeding total receipts for that fiscal year unless Congress authorizes the excess by a three-fifths roll call vote of each chamber. The prohibition excludes outlays for repayment of debt principal and receipts derived from borrowing.  The amendment prohibits total outlays for any fiscal year from exceeding 18% of the gross domestic product of the United States during the previous calendar year, unless two-thirds of each house of Congress approves a higher level of outlays.  The amendment requires a three-fifths roll call vote of each chamber of Congress to increase the public debt limit, suspend the public debt limit, or to increase revenue. It also requires the President to submit a balanced budget to Congress annually. Each chamber of Congress must approve a balanced budget or Members serving in the chamber may not receive compensation.  Congress is authorized to waive these requirements when a declaration of war is in effect or if the United States is engaged in a military conflict which causes an imminent and serious military threat to national security.