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SJRES 14 118th Congress Senate Economics and Public Finance Budget deficits and national debt Constitution and constitutional amendments Income tax rates Judicial review and appeals Legislative rules and procedure Members of Congress

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

Introduced: February 16, 2023 Introduced by: Lee, Mike Republican · Utah See on congress.gov
This bill died when the 118th Congress ended
It never became law before the 118th Congress (2023–2024) 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
Feb 16, 2023
Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
Feb 16, 2023
Introduced in Senate
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 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 or 18% of the U.S. gross domestic product unless Congress authorizes the excess by a two-thirds vote of each chamber. The prohibition excludes outlays for repayment of debt principal and receipts derived from borrowing.

The amendment requires a two-thirds vote of each chamber of Congress to levy a new tax, increase the rate of any tax, or increase the debt limit.

The amendment provides any Member of Congress with standing and a cause of action to seek judicial enforcement of this amendment if authorized by a petition signed by one-third of the Members of either chamber of Congress. Courts are prohibited from ordering any increase in revenue to enforce this amendment.

What's happening now February 16, 2023

Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

 Related & companion bills 2
 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. 14: A joint resolution proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States requiring that the Federal budget be balanced.. 118th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/118-SJRES-14/
MLA
"S.J. Res. 14: A joint resolution proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States requiring that the Federal budget be balanced.." 118th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/118-SJRES-14/.
Bluebook (legal)
S.J. Res. 14, 118th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/118-SJRES-14/.
Markdown link
[S.J. Res. 14: A joint resolution proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States requiring that the Federal budget be balanced.](https://openamerica.io/bill/118-SJRES-14/)
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