Proposing a balanced budget amendment to the Constitution of the United States.
Congress Proposes Constitutional Amendment to Require Balanced Budget and Freeze National Debt
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.
- The plan would also permanently stop the government from raising the national debt limit. This is intended to force the country to pay for its expenses using only the money it currently has rather than borrowing more from the public.
- If the government wanted to raise taxes to increase its income, it would become much harder to do. Any bill that increases federal revenue would require a two-thirds 'supermajority' vote in both the House and the Senate to pass.
- To become part of the Constitution, this amendment must first be approved by two-thirds of both the House and Senate. After that, it would need to be approved by the legislatures in 38 out of the 50 states.
- This change would represent a major shift in how the U.S. economy works. While it aims to stop the national debt from growing, it could also limit the government's ability to spend money quickly during national emergencies or economic downturns.
Impact Analysis
Personal Impact
Life & Work
With the government forced to balance its budget every year, federal employees would likely face hiring freezes, pay freezes, layoffs, and reduced retirement benefits. The federal workforce of roughly 2 million civilian employees would be a frequent target for cost-cutting measures as Congress scrambles to eliminate deficits.
Programs
Broader Impacts
State 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
After Decades of Red Ink, a Fresh Push for a Balanced Budget Amendment Emerges
With the U.S. national debt hitting $37.6 trillion, lawmakers in the 119th Congress have introduced several versions of a Balanced Budget Amendment. These proposals aim to force fiscal discipline by requiring annual balance and making it significantly harder for Congress to raise taxes or debt.
GOP leaders eye vote on compromise budget plan that would punt hard choices on tax, spending cuts
Republican leaders in the House and Senate are moving a compromise budget resolution. Rep. Tom McClintock and others are advocating for a constitutional amendment to ensure the statutory debt limit is not raised without a three-fourths vote, alongside a requirement for balanced annual outlays.
Source Information
Document Type
Congressional Bill
Official Title
Proposing a balanced budget amendment to the Constitution of the United States.
Data Sources
Sponsor
Analysis generated by AI. Always verify with official sources.