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HJRES 7 105th Congress House Economics and Public Finance Balanced budgets Budget deficits Congress Congressional budget Congressional voting Constitutional amendments Debt limit Federal budgets Law Legislation

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

Introduced: January 7, 1997 See on congress.gov
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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 4 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Mar 5, 1997
Referred to the Subcommittee on the Constitution.
Jan 7, 1997
Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
Jan 7, 1997
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR E1)
Jan 7, 1997
Introduced in House
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 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Constitutional Amendment - Requires the Congress, prior to each fiscal year, to adopt a statement in which total Federal outlays do not exceed total receipts, unless a two-thirds vote of both Houses authorizes a specific excess.

Sets a permanent limit on the amount of Federal public debt, prohibiting any increase unless legislation enacted by a two-thirds majority of both Houses becomes law.

Waives these provisions when a declaration of war is in effect or when the United States is engaged in a military conflict which poses a threat to national security as declared by a joint resolution adopted by a majority of each House.

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
 Cosponsors 4
All 4 Republican 4
R
Sessions, Pete
Texas · Mar 6, 1997
 R
Crapo, Mike
Idaho · Jan 7, 1997
 R
Graham, Lindsey
South Carolina · Jan 7, 1997
 R
Smith, Christopher H.
New Jersey · Jan 7, 1997
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.J. Res. 7: Proposing a balanced budget amendment to the Constitution of the United States.. 105th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/105-HJRES-7/
MLA
"H.J. Res. 7: Proposing a balanced budget amendment to the Constitution of the United States.." 105th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/105-HJRES-7/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.J. Res. 7, 105th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/105-HJRES-7/.
Markdown link
[H.J. Res. 7: Proposing a balanced budget amendment to the Constitution of the United States.](https://openamerica.io/bill/105-HJRES-7/)
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