Skip to main content
HJRES 32 117th Congress House Economics and Public Finance Budget deficits and national debt Budget process Constitution and constitutional amendments Legislative rules and procedure Presidents and presidential powers, Vice Presidents

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

Introduced: March 19, 2021 Introduced by: Obernolte, Jay Republican · California See on congress.gov
Sign in to write a letter Sign in to watch
This bill died when the 117th Congress ended
It never became law before the 117th Congress (2021–2022) 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
Mar 19, 2021
Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
Mar 19, 2021
Introduced in House
 Ask about this bill AI · grounded in the bill text

Have a question about what this bill does? Ask in plain English; the answer is drawn from the bill's actual text and official record, and it'll tell you when something isn't in the text rather than guess.

AI answers can be imperfect; always confirm against the full bill text.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

This joint resolution proposes a constitutional amendment prohibiting total outlays for a fiscal year from exceeding total receipts for that fiscal year unless Congress authorizes the excess by a two-thirds roll call vote of each chamber. The prohibition excludes outlays for repayment of debt principal and receipts derived from borrowing.

The amendment also requires the President to submit a balanced budget to Congress annually.

What's happening now March 19, 2021

Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.

 Related & companion bills 7
  • HJRES 2 Related bill Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States relative to balancing the budget.
  • HJRES 3 Related bill Proposing a balanced budget amendment to the Constitution of the United States.
  • HJRES 8 Related bill Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States to provide for balanced budgets for the Government.
  • HJRES 13 Related bill Proposing a balanced budget amendment to the Constitution requiring that each agency and department's funding is justif…
  • SJRES 6 Related bill A joint resolution proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States relative to balancing the budget.
  • HJRES 78 Related bill Proposing a balanced budget amendment to the Constitution of the United States.
  • HJRES 106 Related bill Proposing a balanced budget amendment to the Constitution of the United States.
 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 1
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.J. Res. 32: Proposing a balanced budget amendment to the Constitution of the United States.. 117th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/117-HJRES-32/
MLA
"H.J. Res. 32: Proposing a balanced budget amendment to the Constitution of the United States.." 117th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/117-HJRES-32/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.J. Res. 32, 117th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/117-HJRES-32/.
Markdown link
[H.J. Res. 32: Proposing a balanced budget amendment to the Constitution of the United States.](https://openamerica.io/bill/117-HJRES-32/)
Report a problem