IA 
114TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. J. RES. 81 
Proposing a balanced budget amendment to the Constitution of the United 
States. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JANUARY 13, 2016 
Mr. STIVERS (for himself and Ms. SINEMA) introduced the following joint 
resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary 
JOINT RESOLUTION 
Proposing a balanced budget 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 
States: 
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‘‘ARTICLE — 
‘‘SECTION 1. Total outlays for any fiscal year shall 
not exceed total receipts for that fiscal year. 
‘‘SECTION 2. 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 3. 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-
clared by a joint resolution, adopted by a majority of the 
whole number of each House, which becomes law. Any 
such waiver shall identify and be limited to the specific 
increase for that fiscal year made necessary by the identi-
fied military conflict. Any increase in spending related to 
any waiver provided by this section shall be offset by a 
budget surplus within ten fiscal years of the end of this 
waiver. 
‘‘SECTION 4. The Congress may waive the provisions 
of this article for any fiscal year in which a declaration 
of national emergency is in effect, as so declared by a joint 
resolution, adopted by a majority of the whole number of 
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each House, which becomes law. Any such waiver shall 
identify and be limited to the specific increase for that 
fiscal year made necessary by the identified national emer-
gency. Any increase in spending related to any waiver pro-
vided by this section shall be offset by a budget surplus 
within ten fiscal years of the end of this waiver. 
‘‘SECTION 5. The Congress shall enforce and imple-
ment this article by appropriate legislation, which may rely 
on estimates of outlays and receipts. 
‘‘SECTION 6. 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 repay-
ment of debt principal. 
‘‘SECTION 7. This article shall take effect beginning 
with the tenth fiscal year after its ratification.’’. 
Æ 
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