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United States · Bill · HJRES

H.J.Res. 4 (114th)

Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States relative to balancing the budget.

referredUnited States· United States Congress· EN

Introduced

6 January 2015

Last action

12 January 2015 · Referred

Status

Referred to the Subcommittee on the Constitution and Civil Justice.

Sponsors

Rep. Buchanan, Vern [R-FL-16], Rep. Long, Billy [R-MO-7]

Subjects

Defence, Rule of law, Taxation, Budget

Source updated

4 December 2025

Defence · Rule of law · Taxation · Budget

Summary

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 two-thirds vote of each chamber. The prohibition excludes outlays for repayment of debt principal and receipts derived from borrowing. The amendment prohibits total outlays for any fiscal year from exceeding 18% of the gross domestic product of the United States, unless two-thirds of each house of Congress provides for a specific increase above this amount. The amendment requires a two-thirds vote of each chamber of Congress to impose a new tax, increase the statutory rate of any tax, or increase the aggregate amount of revenue. It requires a three-fifths vote of each chamber to increase the limit on the debt of the United States. The President is required to submit an annual budget in which total outlays do not exceed total receipts and 18% of the gross domestic product of the United States. The amendment prohibits a court from ordering a revenue increase to enforce the provisions of the amendment. Congress is authorized to waive specified provisions of the amendment when the United States is engaged in a military conflict which causes an imminent and serious military threat to national security.

This text is taken from the official record. PoliticalRepo does not editorialize.

Timeline

  1. 6 January 2015

    Introduced

    Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.

    Source: IntroReferral

  2. 6 January 2015

    Introduced

    Introduced in House

    Source: IntroReferral

  3. 6 January 2015

    Introduced

    Introduced in House

    Source: IntroReferral

  4. 12 January 2015

    Referred

    Referred to the Subcommittee on the Constitution and Civil Justice.

    Source: Committee

Votes

No vote records are attached yet.

Versions

Documents

3 official files

Introduced in House (text)

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  • Introduced in House (text)

    Introduced in House · EN · 6 January 2015

    ViewDownloadOpen at official source

  • Introduced in House (PDF)

    Introduced in House · EN · 6 January 2015

    ViewDownloadOpen at official source

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  • Introduced in House

    summary · EN · 6 January 2015

    Open at official source

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Sponsors

Related records

Sources

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