IA 
112TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. J. RES. 81 
Proposing a balanced budget amendment to the Constitution of the United 
States. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
OCTOBER 14, 2011 
Mr. AMASH (for himself, Mr. BUCSHON, Mr. CAMPBELL, Mr. DUNCAN of 
South Carolina, Mr. GARDNER, Mr. GOSAR, Mr. LIPINSKI, Mr. 
MULVANEY, Mr. POLIS, Mr. WOODALL, Mr. LABRADOR, Mr. WALBERG, 
Mr. GOWDY, Mr. WALSH of Illinois, Mr. POMPEO, Mr. GRAVES of Geor-
gia, Mr. QUIGLEY, Mr. LOEBSACK, Mr. SHULER, Mr. RIBBLE, Mr. 
MICHAUD, Mr. HUELSKAMP, Mr. SCHRADER, Mr. SOUTHERLAND, Mr. 
ROKITA, Mr. YODER, Mr. STUTZMAN, Mr. NUGENT, Mr. BURTON of In-
diana, Mr. CULBERSON, and Mr. MORAN) 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 
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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. Two-thirds 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 reasons for the emergency 
designation and shall limit the period 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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