IA
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 Mis-
sissippi, 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.
Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives
of the United States of America in Congress assembled
(two-thirds of each House concurring therein), That the fol-
lowing article is proposed as an amendment to the Con-
stitution 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
•HJ 85 IH
States within seven years after the date of its submission
for ratification:
‘‘ARTICLE —
‘‘SECTION 1. 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 rollcall vote.
‘‘SECTION 2. The limit on the debt of the United
States held by the public shall not be increased, unless
three-fifths of the whole number of each House shall pro-
vide by law for an increase by a rollcall vote.
‘‘SECTION 3. Prior to each fiscal year, the President
shall transmit to the Congress a proposed budget for the
United States Government for that fiscal year, in which
total outlays do not exceed total receipts.
‘‘SECTION 4. No bill to increase revenue shall become
law unless approved by a majority of the whole number
of each House by a rollcall vote.
‘‘SECTION 5. 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 de-
•HJ 85 IH
clared by a joint resolution, adopted by three-fifths of the
whole number of each House, which becomes law.
‘‘SECTION 6. The Congress shall enforce and imple-
ment this article by appropriate legislation, which may rely
on estimates of outlays and receipts.
‘‘SECTION 7. Total receipts shall include all receipts
of the United States Government except those derived
from borrowing and except receipts (including attributable
interest) of the Federal Old-Age and Survivors Insurance
Trust Fund and the Federal Disability Insurance Trust
Fund and any successor funds for which the total balance
of funds is not less than zero. Total outlays shall include
all outlays of the United States Government except for
those for repayment of debt principal and except outlays
of the Federal Old-Age and Survivors Insurance Trust
Fund and the Federal Disability Insurance Trust Fund
and any successor funds for which the total balance of
funds is not less than zero.
‘‘SECTION 8. This article shall take effect beginning
with fiscal year 2008 or with the second fiscal year begin-
ning after its ratification, whichever is later.’’
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