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A joint resolution proposing a balanced budget amendment to the Constitution of the United States.

USA116th CongressSJRES-18| Senate 
| Updated: 4/4/2019
Jon Tester

Jon Tester

Democratic Senator

Montana

Cosponsors (2)
Kyrsten Sinema (Independent)Joe Manchin (Independent)

Judiciary Committee

  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
Constitutional Amendment 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 three-fifths roll call vote of each chamber. The prohibition excludes outlays for repayment of debt principal, receipts derived from borrowing, receipts or outlays of the Social Security and Medicare trust funds, and outlays relating to a natural disaster if the law providing the funds explicitly exempts the funds from the requirement and is agreed to by a majority of each chamber of Congress. The amendment requires the President to annually submit to Congress a budget in which total outlays do not exceed total receipts. The amendment specifies exceptions to the requirements if a declaration of war is in effect, the United States is engaged in military conflict that causes an imminent and serious military threat to national security, economic growth is less than 0%, or the unemployment rate is more than 7%. The amendment prohibits a court from enforcing the requirements by ordering cuts to Social Security or Medicare payments unless the funds available to the trust fund for a program are not sufficient to cover the outlays that would occur during the year if the fund were fully solvent.
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Timeline

Bill from Previous Congress

SJRES 115-39
A joint resolution proposing a balanced budget amendment to the Constitution of the United States.
Apr 4, 2019
Introduced in Senate
Apr 4, 2019
Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
Dec 18, 2020

Latest Companion Bill Action

HJRES 116-108
Introduced in House
  • Bill from Previous Congress

    SJRES 115-39
    A joint resolution proposing a balanced budget amendment to the Constitution of the United States.


  • April 4, 2019
    Introduced in Senate


  • April 4, 2019
    Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.


  • December 18, 2020

    Latest Companion Bill Action

    HJRES 116-108
    Introduced in House

Economics and Public Finance

Related Bills

  • HJRES 116-11: Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States to provide for balanced budgets for the Government.
  • HJRES 116-55: Proposing a balanced budget amendment to the Constitution of the United States.
  • HJRES 116-22: Proposing a balanced budget amendment to the Constitution of the United States.
Budget deficits and national debtBudget processConstitution and constitutional amendmentsDisaster relief and insuranceEconomic performance and conditionsGovernment trust fundsLegislative rules and procedureMedicareNatural disastersSocial security and elderly assistanceUnemployment

A joint resolution proposing a balanced budget amendment to the Constitution of the United States.

USA116th CongressSJRES-18| Senate 
| Updated: 4/4/2019
Constitutional Amendment 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 three-fifths roll call vote of each chamber. The prohibition excludes outlays for repayment of debt principal, receipts derived from borrowing, receipts or outlays of the Social Security and Medicare trust funds, and outlays relating to a natural disaster if the law providing the funds explicitly exempts the funds from the requirement and is agreed to by a majority of each chamber of Congress. The amendment requires the President to annually submit to Congress a budget in which total outlays do not exceed total receipts. The amendment specifies exceptions to the requirements if a declaration of war is in effect, the United States is engaged in military conflict that causes an imminent and serious military threat to national security, economic growth is less than 0%, or the unemployment rate is more than 7%. The amendment prohibits a court from enforcing the requirements by ordering cuts to Social Security or Medicare payments unless the funds available to the trust fund for a program are not sufficient to cover the outlays that would occur during the year if the fund were fully solvent.
View Full Text

Suggested Questions

Get AI-generated questions to help you understand this bill better

Timeline

Bill from Previous Congress

SJRES 115-39
A joint resolution proposing a balanced budget amendment to the Constitution of the United States.
Apr 4, 2019
Introduced in Senate
Apr 4, 2019
Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
Dec 18, 2020

Latest Companion Bill Action

HJRES 116-108
Introduced in House
  • Bill from Previous Congress

    SJRES 115-39
    A joint resolution proposing a balanced budget amendment to the Constitution of the United States.


  • April 4, 2019
    Introduced in Senate


  • April 4, 2019
    Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.


  • December 18, 2020

    Latest Companion Bill Action

    HJRES 116-108
    Introduced in House
Jon Tester

Jon Tester

Democratic Senator

Montana

Cosponsors (2)
Kyrsten Sinema (Independent)Joe Manchin (Independent)

Judiciary Committee

Economics and Public Finance

Related Bills

  • HJRES 116-11: Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States to provide for balanced budgets for the Government.
  • HJRES 116-55: Proposing a balanced budget amendment to the Constitution of the United States.
  • HJRES 116-22: Proposing a balanced budget amendment to the Constitution of the United States.
  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
Budget deficits and national debtBudget processConstitution and constitutional amendmentsDisaster relief and insuranceEconomic performance and conditionsGovernment trust fundsLegislative rules and procedureMedicareNatural disastersSocial security and elderly assistanceUnemployment