arrow_back Civic Audit
Share share

Proposed Constitutional Amendment: Balanced Federal Budget

This proposal aims to add a rule to the Constitution stating that federal government spending cannot exceed its income in a given year. This means the government would only be able to spend what it collects from taxes and other sources, potentially impacting funding for public programs and national financial stability. These changes could limit national debt but also require difficult budget decisions.
Key points
Federal government spending could not exceed its income in a given year, potentially affecting funding for public programs.
Increasing revenue (e.g., taxes) would require a majority vote in both Houses of Congress, and increasing the debt limit would require a three-fifths vote.
These rules could be waived in times of war or serious national security threats.
The President would be required to submit a budget where outlays do not exceed receipts.
article Official text account_balance Process page notifications_active Track this Bill
gavel
Status:
Expired
Record your position for audit.
Why does your vote on bills matter?
It creates raw, undeniable proof. Civic Will provides the permanent data to verify the Government's loyalty towards its citizens (explained here). Start recording it now.
Additional Information
Print number: 118_HJRES_21
Sponsor: Rep. Van Orden, Derrick [R-WI-3]
Process start date: 2023-01-12
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
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 118_HJRES_21.

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 2023-01-12.

What are the main provisions?

Key points include:

  • Federal government spending could not exceed its income in a given year, potentially affecting funding for public programs.
  • Increasing revenue (e.g., taxes) would require a majority vote in both Houses of Congress, and increasing the debt limit would require a three-fifths vote.
  • These rules could be waived in times of war or serious national security threats.
  • The President would be required to submit a budget where outlays do not exceed receipts.
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. Van Orden, Derrick [R-WI-3].

What is the latest detailed status?

The latest detailed status is: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.

Is this summary verified?

Yes. This content was analyzed by AI and verified by the Lustra Judge System on 2025-12-24.

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