United States · Bill · HJRES
H.J.Res. 85 (114th)
Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States requiring that the Federal budget be balanced.
Introduced
3 March 2016
Last action
3 March 2016 · Introduced
Status
Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
Sponsors
Rep. Loudermilk, Barry [R-GA-11], Rep. Mulvaney, Mick [R-SC-5], Rep. Schweikert, David [R-AZ-1], Rep. Gowdy, Trey [R-SC-4], Sen. Lummis, Cynthia M. [R-WY], Rep. Smith, Lamar [R-TX-21], Rep. Byrne, Bradley [R-AL-1], Rep. Davis, Rodney [R-IL-13], Rep. Westmoreland, Lynn A. [R-GA-3], Rep. Weber, Randy K. Sr. [R-TX-14], Rep. DesJarlais, Scott [R-TN-4], Rep. Brat, Dave [R-VA-7], Rep. Jordan, Jim [R-OH-4], Rep. Chaffetz, Jason [R-UT-3], Rep. Collins, Doug [R-GA-9], Rep. McClintock, Tom [R-CA-5], Rep. Barton, Joe [R-TX-6], Rep. Ribble, Reid J. [R-WI-8], Rep. Carter, Earl L. "Buddy" [R-GA-1], Rep. Noem, Kristi L. [R-SD-At Large], Rep. Griffith, H. Morgan [R-VA-9]
Subjects
Rule of law, Taxation, Budget
Source updated
4 December 2025
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 or 18% of the U.S. gross domestic product 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 requires a two-thirds vote of each chamber of Congress to levy a new tax, increase the rate of any tax, or increase the debt limit. The amendment provides any Member of Congress with standing and a cause of action to seek judicial enforcement of this amendment if authorized by a petition signed by one-third of the Members of either house of Congress. Courts are prohibited from ordering any increase in revenue to enforce this amendment.
This text is taken from the official record. PoliticalRepo does not editorialize.
Timeline
3 March 2016
Introduced
Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
Source: IntroReferral
3 March 2016
Introduced
Introduced in House
Source: IntroReferral
3 March 2016
Introduced
Introduced in House
Source: IntroReferral
Votes
No vote records are attached yet.
Versions
- Introduced in House · 3 March 2016 · Download file
Documents
3 official files
Introduced in House (text)
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Introduced in House (text)
Introduced in House · EN · 3 March 2016
Introduced in House (PDF)
Introduced in House · EN · 3 March 2016
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Introduced in House
summary · EN · 3 March 2016
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Sponsors
- Rep. Loudermilk, Barry [R-GA-11] · R · Sponsor
- Rep. Mulvaney, Mick [R-SC-5] · R · Sponsor
- Rep. Schweikert, David [R-AZ-1] · R · Sponsor
- Rep. Gowdy, Trey [R-SC-4] · R · Sponsor
- Sen. Lummis, Cynthia M. [R-WY] · R · Sponsor
- Rep. Smith, Lamar [R-TX-21] · R · Sponsor
- Rep. Byrne, Bradley [R-AL-1] · R · Sponsor
- Rep. Davis, Rodney [R-IL-13] · R · Sponsor
- Rep. Westmoreland, Lynn A. [R-GA-3] · R · Sponsor
- Rep. Weber, Randy K. Sr. [R-TX-14] · R · Sponsor
- Rep. DesJarlais, Scott [R-TN-4] · R · Sponsor
- Rep. Brat, Dave [R-VA-7] · R · Sponsor
- Rep. Jordan, Jim [R-OH-4] · R · Sponsor
- Rep. Chaffetz, Jason [R-UT-3] · R · Sponsor
- Rep. Collins, Doug [R-GA-9] · R · Sponsor
- Rep. McClintock, Tom [R-CA-5] · R · Sponsor
- Rep. Barton, Joe [R-TX-6] · R · Sponsor
- Rep. Ribble, Reid J. [R-WI-8] · R · Sponsor
- Rep. Carter, Earl L. "Buddy" [R-GA-1] · R · Cosponsor
- Rep. Noem, Kristi L. [R-SD-At Large] · R · Cosponsor
- Rep. Griffith, H. Morgan [R-VA-9] · R · Cosponsor
- · hsju00 · Standing
Related records
- related to → Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States requiring that the Federal budget be balanced and that an increase in the Federal debt requires approval from a majority of the legislatures of the several States.
- related to → Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States requiring that the Federal budget be balanced.
- related to → A joint resolution proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States requiring that the Federal budget be balanced.
Sources
PoliticalRepo is an index and interpretation layer, not the authoritative legal source.
- Official source: https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/house-joint-resolution/85
- Open data entity: https://api.congress.gov/v3/bill/114/hjres/85
- us · 114-hjres-85 · source updated 4 December 2025