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Proposed Constitutional Amendment: Balanced Budget and Debt Control

This proposal aims to amend the Constitution to require that government spending does not exceed revenue, unless Congress approves it with a supermajority vote. This means future governments will need to manage finances more carefully, potentially impacting public services and taxes. The changes are intended to limit national debt and ensure financial stability.
Key points
Government spending cannot exceed revenue unless 3/5 of Congress approves it.
Increasing the public debt limit requires approval from 3/5 of Congress.
The President must submit a budget where spending does not exceed revenue.
Tax increases require approval from a majority of Congress by rollcall vote.
These rules can be waived during war or serious military conflict.
The changes will take effect five years after ratification by the states.
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Status:
Expired
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Additional Information
Print number: 117_HJRES_3
Sponsor: Rep. Chabot, Steve [R-OH-1]
Process start date: 2021-01-04
System Note: Lustra is free, publicly auditable civic infrastructure, with full source code available on GitHub. You are reading sterilized legislative data, processed by our radical neutrality engine to strip political spin and retain factual mechanics. We process only official government data. Original documents remain the authoritative source, always verify them if you can.
Summarized by: gemini-2.5-flash-preview-05-20
Source data: api.congress.gov
AI work logs for this document launch

OFFICIAL LEGAL TITLE

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

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What is the official ID of this bill?

The official print number for this legislation is 117_HJRES_3.

Which chamber initiated this legislation?

This legislation was initiated in the House of Representatives.

When did the legislative process begin?

The process officially started on 2021-01-04.

What are the main provisions?

Key points include:

  • Government spending cannot exceed revenue unless 3/5 of Congress approves it.
  • Increasing the public debt limit requires approval from 3/5 of Congress.
  • The President must submit a budget where spending does not exceed revenue.
  • Tax increases require approval from a majority of Congress by rollcall vote.
  • These rules can be waived during war or serious military conflict.
  • The changes will take effect five years after ratification by the states.
What is the specific legal status?

The current status is Expired.

Where can I read the full text of this legislation?

The full official text is available at: View full text

Who is the primary sponsor?

The primary sponsor is Rep. Chabot, Steve [R-OH-1].

What is the latest detailed status?

The latest detailed status is: Referred to the Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights, and Civil Liberties.

Is this summary verified?

Yes. This content was analyzed by AI and verified by the Lustra Judge System on 2025-12-27.

What is the impact of this bill?

We don't know, that is up to you to decide. Summarizing raw data with AI is fundamentally different from predicting socio-economic outcomes. As of 2026, we believe impact assessment strictly requires a human in the loop to verify and judge.

CATEGORIES

Economy Taxes Public Investments