Proposing a balanced budget amendment to the Constitution of the United States.
Congress Proposes Constitutional Amendment to Require a Balanced Federal Budget
Stalled
No legislative action in over 90 days.
Legislative Progress
Key Points
- This proposal would change the U.S. Constitution to require the federal government to balance its budget every year. This means the government would be banned from spending more money than it brings in through taxes and other income.
- If the government wants to spend more than it has, two-thirds of both the House and the Senate would have to hold a special vote to allow it. This would make it much harder for the government to run a deficit or increase the national debt during normal years.
- The President would be required to submit a balanced budget plan to Congress every single year. The rule counts all government income except for borrowed money, and all spending except for paying back the original amount of old debt.
- To become part of the Constitution, this plan needs a two-thirds vote in both the House and Senate, and then it must be approved by 38 states within seven years. If it passes those hurdles, the new rules would start five years after the states finish approving it.
Impact Analysis
Personal Impact
Life & Work
Federal employees could face pay freezes, hiring freezes, furloughs, or layoffs as Congress tries to balance the budget each year. The federal workforce is one of the more controllable parts of government spending, making it an easy target when cuts are needed.
Programs
Broader Impacts
Milestones
Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
Introduced in House
The bill was officially filed and given a number. It now enters the legislative queue.
Votes
No votes have been recorded for this legislation yet.
Related News
2 articles
Newly proposed constitutional amendments face steep challenges
As of late January 2025, the 119th Congress has already seen the introduction of resolutions to require a balanced budget. These proposals typically require a two-thirds majority in both chambers and three-fourths of state legislatures to succeed, a feat not achieved since the 1990s.
Resolution seeking federal balanced budget amendment fails in Montana
Montana Senators voted down a resolution calling for a constitutional convention to craft a federal balanced budget amendment. The move came despite a visit from Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, who has been touring states to build the 34-state coalition required to bypass Congress.
Source Information
Document Type
Congressional Bill
Official Title
Proposing a balanced budget amendment to the Constitution of the United States.
Data Sources
Sponsor
Cosponsors
(2)Analysis generated by AI. Always verify with official sources.