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HJRES 56 112th Congress House Economics and Public Finance Budget deficits and national debt Budget process Constitution and constitutional amendments Income tax rates Legislative rules and procedure

Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States relative to balancing the budget.

Introduced: April 7, 2011 See on congress.gov
 Everywhere this bill has been 3 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Jul 11, 2011
Referred to the Subcommittee on the Constitution.
Apr 7, 2011
Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
Apr 7, 2011
Introduced in House
 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Constitutional Amendment - Prohibits outlays for a fiscal year (except those for repayment of debt principal) from exceeding total receipts for that fiscal year (except those derived from borrowing) unless Congress, by a two-thirds roll call vote of each chamber, authorizes a specific excess of outlays over receipts.

Prohibits total outlays for any fiscal year from exceeding 18% of the gross domestic product (GDP) for the preceding calendar year unless Congress, by a two-thirds roll call vote of each chamber, authorizes a specific excess over such 18%.

Directs the President to submit a balanced budget to Congress annually.

Prohibits any bill from becoming law that imposes a new tax or increases the statutory rate of any tax or the aggregate amount of revenue, unless approved by a two-thirds roll call vote of each chamber.

Requires a three-fifths roll call vote of each chamber to increase the federal debt limit.

Authorizes waivers of these requirements: (1) when a declaration of war is in effect against a nation-state and Congress, by a majority roll call vote of each chamber, authorizes a specific excess; or (2) under other specified circumstances involving military conflict, if Congress, by a three-fifths roll call vote of each chamber, authorizes such waiver.

Prohibits a federal or state court from ordering any increase in revenue to enforce this article.

What's happening now July 11, 2011

Referred to the Subcommittee on the Constitution.

 Committees of jurisdiction 2