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Proposed Constitutional Amendment: Balanced Budget and Government Spending Limits

This proposed amendment to the US Constitution aims to establish rules requiring the federal government to spend only what it collects and limit spending to 18% of the economy's size. This could mean potential changes in how public services are funded and make it harder to raise taxes or increase the national debt.
Key points
The federal government would be required to spend only as much money as it collects in a given year.
Federal government spending would be limited to a maximum of 18% of the size of the entire national economy.
Raising taxes or introducing new ones would require approval by a two-thirds majority vote in both houses of Congress.
Increasing the public debt limit would also require approval by a two-thirds majority vote in both houses of Congress.
These rules could only be suspended for a given year with the approval of a two-thirds majority vote in both houses of Congress.
Members of Congress could go to court to ensure these rules are followed, but a court could not order the government to increase its revenue.
article Official text account_balance Process page
Expired
Citizen Poll
No votes cast
Additional Information
Print number: 117_SJRES_5
Sponsor: Sen. Lee, Mike [R-UT]
Process start date: 2021-01-22
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Summarized by: gemini-2.5-flash-preview-04-17
Source data: api.congress.gov
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OFFICIAL LEGAL TITLE

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

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What is the official ID of this bill?

The official print number for this legislation is 117_SJRES_5.

Which chamber initiated this legislation?

This legislation was initiated in the Senate.

When did the legislative process begin?

The process officially started on 2021-01-22.

What are the main provisions?

Key points include:

  • The federal government would be required to spend only as much money as it collects in a given year.
  • Federal government spending would be limited to a maximum of 18% of the size of the entire national economy.
  • Raising taxes or introducing new ones would require approval by a two-thirds majority vote in both houses of Congress.
  • Increasing the public debt limit would also require approval by a two-thirds majority vote in both houses of Congress.
  • These rules could only be suspended for a given year with the approval of a two-thirds majority vote in both houses of Congress.
  • Members of Congress could go to court to ensure these rules are followed, but a court could not order the government to increase its revenue.
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 Sen. Lee, Mike [R-UT].

What is the latest detailed status?

The latest detailed status is: Introduced in Senate

Is this summary verified?

Yes. This content was analyzed by AI and verified by the Lustra Judge System on 2025-12-28.

CATEGORIES

Economy