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HJRES 45 105th Congress House Economics and Public Finance Balanced budgets Budget deficits Capital budgets Capital investments Congress Congressional budget process Constitutional amendments Economic growth Federal budgets Federal receipts and expenditures Finance and Financial Sector Government trust funds Infrastructure Infrastructure (Economics) Law Off-budget expenditures Old age, survivors and disability insurance Public debt Social Welfare

Proposing a balanced budget amendment to the Constitution of the United States.

Introduced: February 5, 1997 See on congress.gov
This bill died when the 105th Congress ended
It never became law before the 105th Congress (1997–1998) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 3 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Mar 5, 1997
Referred to the Subcommittee on the Constitution.
Feb 5, 1997
Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
Feb 5, 1997
Introduced in House
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 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Constitutional Amendment - Prohibits Federal outlays of operating funds from exceeding receipts to such funds for any fiscal year plus any operating fund balances carried over from previous fiscal years.

Waives such prohibition: (1) when a declaration of war is in effect; (2) when the United States by law is engaged in military conflict; or (3) if economic growth has been or will be negative for two consecutive quarters.

Requires the President to propose a budget in accordance with this Act.

Declares that total receipts exclude those derived from net borrowing. Declares that total outlays shall exclude those for repayment of debt principal and for capital investments in physical infrastructure that provide long-term economic returns, but shall include an annual debt servicing charge. Provides that the Federal Old-Age and Survivors Insurance Trust Fund and the Federal Disability Insurance Trust Fund shall not be counted as receipts or outlays.

Requires this article to take effect beginning with the later of FY 2002 or the second fiscal year beginning after its ratification.

What's happening now March 5, 1997

Referred to the Subcommittee on the Constitution.

 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 2
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APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.J. Res. 45: Proposing a balanced budget amendment to the Constitution of the United States.. 105th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/105-HJRES-45/
MLA
"H.J. Res. 45: Proposing a balanced budget amendment to the Constitution of the United States.." 105th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/105-HJRES-45/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.J. Res. 45, 105th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/105-HJRES-45/.
Markdown link
[H.J. Res. 45: Proposing a balanced budget amendment to the Constitution of the United States.](https://openamerica.io/bill/105-HJRES-45/)
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