IA 
112TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. J. RES. 73 
Proposing a spending limit amendment to the Constitution of the United 
States. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JULY 21, 2011 
Mr. AMASH (for himself, Mr. BENISHEK, Mr. CAMPBELL, Mr. CULBERSON, 
Mr. FLAKE, Mr. GARDNER, Mr. GIBSON, Mr. GOSAR, Mr. GOWDY, Mr. 
GRAVES of Georgia, Mr. HULTGREN, Mr. KINGSTON, Mr. LABRADOR, 
Mr. LIPINSKI, Mr. MULVANEY, Mr. NUGENT, Mr. POMPEO, Mr. RIBBLE, 
Mr. SOUTHERLAND, Mr. WALSH of Illinois, and Mr. WOODALL) intro-
duced the following joint resolution; which was referred to the Committee 
on the Judiciary 
JOINT RESOLUTION 
Proposing a spending limit amendment to the Constitution 
of the United States. 
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 
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•HJ 73 IH 
States within seven years after the date of its submission 
for ratification: 
‘‘ARTICLE — 
‘‘SECTION 1. Total outlays for a year shall not exceed 
the average annual revenue collected in the three prior 
years, adjusted in proportion to changes in population and 
inflation. Total outlays shall include all outlays of the 
United States except those for payment of debt, and rev-
enue shall include all revenue of the United States except 
that derived from borrowing. 
‘‘SECTION 2. Three-fourths of the whole number of 
each House of Congress may by roll call vote declare an 
emergency and provide by law for specific outlays in excess 
of the limit in section 1. The declaration shall specify rea-
sons for the emergency designation and shall limit the pe-
riod in which outlays may exceed the limit in section 1 
to no longer than one year. 
‘‘SECTION 3. All revenue in excess of outlays shall 
reduce the debt of the United States. Upon the retirement 
of such debt, revenue in excess of outlays shall be held 
by the Treasury to be used as specified in section 2. 
‘‘SECTION 4. The Congress shall have power to en-
force and implement this article by appropriate legislation. 
‘‘SECTION 5. This article shall take effect in the first 
year beginning at least 90 days following ratification, ex-
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cept that outlays shall not surpass the sum of the limit 
described in section 1 and the following portion of the 
prior year’s outlays exceeding that limit (excepting emer-
gency outlays as provided for in section 2): nine-tenths 
in the first year, eight-ninths in the second, seven-eighths 
in the third, six-sevenths in the fourth, five-sixths in the 
fifth, four-fifths in the sixth, three-fourths in the seventh, 
two-thirds in the eighth, one-half in the ninth, and the 
limit shall bind in the tenth year and thereafter.’’. 
Æ 
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