A joint resolution proposing a balanced budget amendment to the Constitution of the United States.
Senators Propose Constitutional Amendment Requiring Congress to Balance the Federal Budget
Stalled
No legislative action in over 90 days.
Legislative Progress
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.
Impact Analysis
Personal Impact
Life & Work
The roughly 2.1 million federal civilian employees could face pay freezes, hiring freezes, furloughs, or layoffs as Congress works to bring spending in line with revenues. Federal workforce costs are a visible and politically accessible target for budget cuts. A balanced budget mandate would create sustained downward pressure on the size and compensation of the federal workforce.
Programs
Broader Impacts
Milestones
Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
Sent to a congressional committee for expert review. The committee decides whether this bill moves forward.
Introduced in Senate
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.
Source Information
Document Type
Congressional Bill
Official Title
A joint resolution 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.