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SJRES 1 113th Congress Senate

A joint resolution proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States requiring that the Federal budget be balanced.

Introduced: January 22, 2013 Introduced by: Lee, Mike Republican · Utah See on congress.gov
Economics and Public Finance Budget deficits and national debtConstitution and constitutional amendmentsIncome tax ratesLegislative rules and procedure
This bill died when the 113th Congress ended
It never became law before the 113th Congress (2013–2014) 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 2 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Jan 22, 2013
Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
Jan 22, 2013
Introduced in Senate
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 Latest action January 22, 2013

Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Constitutional Amendment - Prohibits total 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).

Prohibits total outlays from exceeding 18% of the gross domestic product (GDP) for the calendar year ending before the beginning of such fiscal year.

Authorizes Congress to provide for suspension of the imposed limitations for any fiscal year for which two-thirds of each chamber shall provide, by a roll call vote, for a specific excess of outlays over receipts or over 18% of such GDP for such calendar year.

Prohibits any bill to levy a new tax or increase the rate of any tax from becoming law unless approved by a two-thirds roll call vote of each chamber.

Requires a two-thirds roll call vote of each chamber to increase the public debt limit.

Grants Members of Congress standing and a cause of action to seek judicial enforcement of this article when authorized to do so by a petition signed by one-third of the Members of either chamber. Prohibits a federal or state court from ordering any increase in revenue to enforce this article.

 Related & companion bills 1
 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 1
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APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). S.J. Res. 1: A joint resolution proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States requiring that the Federal budget be balanced.. 113th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/113-SJRES-1/
MLA
"S.J. Res. 1: A joint resolution proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States requiring that the Federal budget be balanced.." 113th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/113-SJRES-1/.
Bluebook (legal)
S.J. Res. 1, 113th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/113-SJRES-1/.
Markdown link
[S.J. Res. 1: A joint resolution proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States requiring that the Federal budget be balanced.](https://openamerica.io/bill/113-SJRES-1/)
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