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Proposed Constitutional Amendment: Balanced Federal Budget and New Tax Rules

This proposed amendment to the U.S. Constitution aims to require the federal government to spend no more than it collects and to limit spending to 18% of GDP. Citizens might experience more stable government finances, but also face a higher bar for new taxes or increases in public debt, which would require greater congressional support.
Key points
The federal government would be required to spend no more than it collects in a given year.
Federal outlays could not exceed 18% of the U.S. economy's value (GDP).
Introducing new taxes or raising rates would require a two-thirds vote in both houses of Congress.
Increasing the public debt limit would also require a two-thirds vote in both houses of Congress.
These rules could only be suspended in exceptional circumstances with a two-thirds vote in both houses of Congress.
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Status: Expired
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Additional Information
Print number: 118_HJRES_67
Sponsor: Rep. Pfluger, August [R-TX-11]
Process start date: 2023-06-09
System Note: Lustra is free, publicly auditable civic infrastructure — 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 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 118_HJRES_67.

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 2023-06-09.

What are the main provisions?

Key points include:

  • The federal government would be required to spend no more than it collects in a given year.
  • Federal outlays could not exceed 18% of the U.S. economy's value (GDP).
  • Introducing new taxes or raising rates would require a two-thirds vote in both houses of Congress.
  • Increasing the public debt limit would also require a two-thirds vote in both houses of Congress.
  • These rules could only be suspended in exceptional circumstances with a two-thirds vote in both houses of Congress.
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. Pfluger, August [R-TX-11].

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 Courts and Law