IA
103D CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
H. J. RES. 8
Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States requiring
the submission of balanced Federal funds budgets by the President
and action by the Congress to provide revenues to offset Federal funds
deficits.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
JANUARY 5, 1993
Mr. ARCHER introduced the following joint resolution; which was referred to
the Committee on the Judiciary
JOINT RESOLUTION
Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United
States requiring the submission of balanced Federal
funds budgets by the President and action by the Con-
gress to provide revenues to offset Federal funds deficits.
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 hereby 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:
HJ 8 IH
‘‘ARTICLE —
‘‘SECTION 1. (a) On or before the fifteenth day after
the beginning of each regular session of the Congress, the
President shall transmit to the Congress a budget which
shall set forth separately—
‘‘(1) his estimate of the receipts of the Govern-
ment, other than receipts of trust funds, during the
ensuing fiscal year under the laws then existing, and
his recommendations with respect to expenditures to
be made by the Government, other than expendi-
tures from trust funds, during such ensuing fiscal
year, which shall not exceed his estimate of such re-
ceipts; and
‘‘(2) his estimate of the receipts of Government
trust funds during such ensuing fiscal year under
the laws then existing, and his estimate and rec-
ommendations with respect to expenditures from
such trust funds during such ensuing fiscal year.
The President may, from time to time, transmit revisions
of his estimates of the receipts referred to in paragraphs
(1) and (2) and revisions of his estimates and rec-
ommendations with respect to expenditures referred to in
paragraphs (1) and (2), and shall include any necessary
revision with respect to expenditures referred to in para-
graph (1) so that his recommendations with respect to
HJ 8 IH
such expenditures do not exceed his estimate of the re-
ceipts referred to in paragraph (1).
‘‘(b) In transmitting the budget for any fiscal year,
the President may recommend measures for raising addi-
tional revenues and measures for the expenditure of all
or part of such additional revenues.
‘‘SECTION 2. On or before the last day of the second
month following the close of each fiscal year, the President
shall report to the Congress the actual amount of receipts
and expenditures of the Government during such fiscal
year, other than receipts and expenditures of trust funds.
‘‘SECTION 3. (a) If, for the period of two consecutive
fiscal years, beginning with the first fiscal year for which
the report required by section 2 is made to the Congress,
or for any period of two consecutive fiscal years thereafter
following the close of the preceding two-fiscal-year period,
the aggregate expenditures by the Government, other than
expenditures from trust funds, exceed the aggregate re-
ceipts of the Government, other than receipts of trust
funds, neither the House of Representatives nor the Sen-
ate shall, after receiving the report under section 2 for
the second of such fiscal years, have power to pass any
bill or other measure appropriating any moneys out of the
general fund of the Treasury until such time as provisions
of law have come into effect which will provide additional
HJ 8 IH
revenue, within a period of not more than twelve months
thereafter, in an amount not less than the amount by
which such expenditures exceeded such receipts.
‘‘(b) During a war or other national emergency the
provisions of subsection (a), and of so much of section 1
as requires the President to submit a budget in which rec-
ommended expenditures do not exceed estimated receipts,
shall not apply with respect to any period if—
‘‘(1) the President recommends to the Congress
the suspension of such provisions with respect to
such period, and
‘‘(2) the Congress by a two-thirds vote of each
House agrees to a resolution suspending such provi-
sions with respect to such period.
‘‘SECTION 4. Section 1 of this article shall take effect
on the first day of the first calendar year which begins
after the ratification of this article. Sections 2 and 3 of
this article shall apply with respect to fiscal years com-
mencing after such first day.
‘‘SECTION 5. This article shall be inoperative unless
it shall have been ratified as an amendment to the Con-
stitution by the legislatures of three-fourths of the several
States within seven years from the date of its submission
to the States by the Congress.’’.
Æ