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HJRES 73 112th Congress House Economics and Public Finance Budget deficits and national debt Budget process Constitution and constitutional amendments

Proposing a spending limit amendment to the Constitution of the United States.

Introduced: July 21, 2011 See on congress.gov
This bill died when the 112th Congress ended
It never became law before the 112th Congress (2011–2012) 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
Aug 25, 2011
Referred to the Subcommittee on the Constitution.
Jul 21, 2011
Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
Jul 21, 2011
Introduced in House
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 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Constitutional Amendment - Prohibits total outlays (except those for payment of debt) for a year from exceeding the average annual revenue (except that derived from borrowing) collected in the three prior years, adjusted in proportion to changes in population and inflation.

Requires a three-fourths roll call vote of each chamber to declare an emergency and provide by law for specific outlays in excess of such limit.

Requires the declaration to specify reasons for the emergency designation and to limit the period in which outlays may exceed such limit to no longer than one year.

Requires all revenue in excess of outlays: (1) to reduce the federal debt; and (2) upon the retirement of such debt, to be held by the Treasury to be used for the specific outlays in excess of such limit.

Prescribes a formula for reducing outlays over ten years.

What's happening now August 25, 2011

Referred to the Subcommittee on the Constitution.

 Related & companion bills 2
 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 2
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.J. Res. 73: Proposing a spending limit amendment to the Constitution of the United States.. 112th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/112-HJRES-73/
MLA
"H.J. Res. 73: Proposing a spending limit amendment to the Constitution of the United States.." 112th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/112-HJRES-73/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.J. Res. 73, 112th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/112-HJRES-73/.
Markdown link
[H.J. Res. 73: Proposing a spending limit amendment to the Constitution of the United States.](https://openamerica.io/bill/112-HJRES-73/)
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