Constitutional Amendment - Prohibits total outlays for a fiscal year (except those for repayment of debt principal) from exceeding total receipts for that fiscal year (except those derived from borrowing) unless Congress, by a two-thirds roll call vote of each chamber, authorizes a specific excess of outlays over receipts.
Prohibits total outlays for any fiscal year from exceeding 18% of the gross domestic product (GDP) for the preceding calendar year unless Congress, by a two-thirds roll call vote of each chamber, authorizes a specific excess over such 18%.
Directs the President to submit a balanced budget to Congress annually.
Prohibits any bill from becoming law that imposes a new tax or increases the statutory rate of any tax or the aggregate amount of revenue, unless approved by a two-thirds roll call vote of each chamber.
Requires a three-fifths roll call vote of each chamber to increase the federal debt limit.
Authorizes waivers of these requirements: (1) when a declaration of war is in effect against a nation-state and Congress, by a majority roll call vote of each chamber, authorizes a specific excess; or (2) under other specified circumstances involving military conflict, if Congress, by a three-fifths roll call vote of each chamber, authorizes such waiver.
Prohibits a federal or state court from ordering any increase in revenue to enforce this article.
[Congressional Bills 113th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S.J. Res. 7 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
113th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. J. RES. 7
Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States
relative to balancing the budget.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
February 13, 2013
Mr. Cornyn (for himself, Mr. McConnell, Mr. Roberts, Mr. Hatch, Mr.
Cochran, Mr. Grassley, Mr. Shelby, Mr. McCain, Mr. Inhofe, Mr.
Sessions, Ms. Collins, Mr. Enzi, Mr. Crapo, Ms. Murkowski, Mr.
Chambliss, Mr. Graham, Mr. Alexander, Mr. Burr, Mr. Coburn, Mr. Thune,
Mr. Isakson, Mr. Vitter, Mr. Corker, Mr. Barrasso, Mr. Wicker, Mr.
Johanns, Mr. Risch, Mr. Kirk, Mr. Coats, Mr. Blunt, Mr. Moran, Mr.
Portman, Mr. Boozman, Mr. Toomey, Mr. Hoeven, Mr. Rubio, Mr. Johnson of
Wisconsin, Mr. Paul, Mr. Lee, Ms. Ayotte, Mr. Heller, Mr. Scott, Mr.
Flake, Mr. Cruz, and Mrs. Fischer) introduced the following joint
resolution; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on the
Judiciary
_______________________________________________________________________
JOINT RESOLUTION
Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States
relative to balancing the budget.
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 following article is 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:
``Article--
``Section 1. Total outlays for any fiscal year shall not exceed
total receipts for that fiscal year, unless two-thirds of the duly
chosen and sworn Members of each House of Congress shall provide by law
for a specific excess of outlays over receipts by a roll call vote.
``Section 2. Total outlays for any fiscal year shall not exceed 18
percent of the gross domestic product of the United States for the
calendar year ending before the beginning of such fiscal year, unless
two-thirds of the duly chosen and sworn Members of each House of
Congress shall provide by law for a specific amount in excess of such
18 percent by a roll call 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--
``(1) total outlays do not exceed total receipts; and
``(2) total outlays do not exceed 18 percent of the gross
domestic product of the United States for the calendar year
ending before the beginning of such fiscal year.
``Section 4. Any bill that imposes a new tax or increases the
statutory rate of any tax or the aggregate amount of revenue may pass
only by a two-thirds majority of the duly chosen and sworn Members of
each House of Congress by a roll call vote. For the purpose of
determining any increase in revenue under this section, there shall be
excluded any increase resulting from the lowering of the statutory rate
of any tax.
``Section 5. The limit on the debt of the United States shall not
be increased, unless three-fifths of the duly chosen and sworn Members
of each House of Congress shall provide for such an increase by a roll
call vote.
``Section 6. The Congress may waive the provisions of sections 1,
2, 3, and 5 of this article for any fiscal year in which a declaration
of war against a nation-state is in effect and in which a majority of
the duly chosen and sworn Members of each House of Congress shall
provide for a specific excess by a roll call vote.
``Section 7. The Congress may waive the provisions of sections 1,
2, 3, and 5 of this article in any fiscal year in which the United
States is engaged in a military conflict that causes an imminent and
serious military threat to national security and is so declared by
three-fifths of the duly chosen and sworn Members of each House of
Congress by a roll call vote. Such suspension must identify and be
limited to the specific excess of outlays for that fiscal year made
necessary by the identified military conflict.
``Section 8. No court of the United States or of any State shall
order any increase in revenue to enforce this article.
``Section 9. 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 those for repayment of debt principal.
``Section 10. The Congress shall have power to enforce and
implement this article by appropriate legislation, which may rely on
estimates of outlays, receipts, and gross domestic product.
``Section 11. This article shall take effect beginning with the
fifth fiscal year beginning after its ratification.''.
<all>
Introduced in Senate
Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. (text of measure as introduced: CR S715-716)
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