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Congress·In Committee

Senators Propose Constitutional Amendment Requiring Congress to Balance the Federal Budget

A joint resolution proposing a balanced budget amendment to the Constitution of the United States.

4 months ago·View on Congress.gov

Legislative Progress

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Senate
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Key Points

  • This resolution proposes a change to the U.S. Constitution that would require the federal government to balance its budget. If passed and approved by the states, the government would have 10 years to ensure that the money it spends does not exceed the money it collects from taxes and other sources.
  • The rule would count almost all government spending, but it would not include payments made on the existing national debt. On the income side, the government would not be allowed to count borrowed money as part of its official revenue to make the budget look balanced.
  • There is an exception for emergencies like wars or national crises. If two-thirds of both the House and the Senate agree, the government could spend more than it earns for a limited time, but any new debt from that spending must be paid back as soon as possible.
  • To become part of the Constitution, this proposal must first be approved by two-thirds of both the House and the Senate. After that, three-fourths of all U.S. states (38 out of 50) would have to vote to approve it within a seven-year window.
  • This policy aims to stop the national debt from growing by forcing Congress to live within its means. However, critics often argue that a strict balanced budget rule could lead to major cuts in programs like Social Security or make it harder for the government to respond to economic recessions.
Economy Finance

Impact Analysis

Scores: 1 = low, 5 = highSentiment: -5 to +5 (net benefit)

Milestones

2 milestones2 actions
Nov 20, 2025Senate

Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

Nov 20, 2025

Introduced in Senate

Related News

1 article
DC Journal·5 months ago

A Balanced Budget Amendment Is in Democrats' Interests

Newer, next-generation BBAs sidestep the challenges of older versions. They would balance over the medium term, adjust for revenue changes, and establish a decade-long glide path to primary balance, which excludes interest payments, while providing a safety valve for national emergencies.

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Source Information

Document Type

Congressional Bill

Official Title

A joint resolution proposing a balanced budget amendment to the Constitution of the United States.

Bill NumberSJRES 97
Congress119th Congress
ChamberSenate
Latest ActionRead twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

Sponsor

Cosponsors

(2)
R: 2

Analysis generated by AI. While we strive for accuracy, this should not be considered legal or professional advice. Always verify information with official government sources.