PlainBillCongress, translated.Legislation. Context. Public interest.Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
Congressional Research Service
Version 00 · Introduced in House · Jan 3, 2025
This joint resolution proposes a constitutional amendment prohibiting total outlays for a fiscal year from exceeding total receipts for that fiscal year unless (1) Congress authorizes the excess by a three-fifths vote of each chamber, and (2) total outlays do not exceed a specified percentage of the estimated gross domestic product of the United States. The prohibition excludes outlays for repayment of debt principal and receipts derived from borrowing.
The amendment requires a three-fifths vote of each chamber of Congress to increase revenue or increase the limit on the debt of the United States.
The amendment also requires the President to submit an annual budget in which total outlays do not exceed total receipts. The President's budget must also include justifications and specified details regarding funding proposed for departments and agencies.
Congress may waive the requirements due to a declaration of war, a military conflict, an event that causes an imminent and serious military threat to national security, or a natural disaster.
People & committees
Rep. Perry, Scott [R-PA-10] · R–PA
Legislative record
A procedural vote is different from passage. Passage in one chamber does not establish enactment. Explore the glossary.
Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Primary sources
Text links open the official source. We also preserved the text version used in the PlainBill explanation below.
Source last updated: Mar 27, 2025. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.
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PlainBill explanation
Based on the full Introduced in House · 2025-01-03 text. This explanation has not received human editorial review. This overview describes the proposal’s major provisions; it does not establish what its real-world effects would be.
As introduced in the House on January 3, 2025, this resolution proposes a constitutional amendment governing federal spending, borrowing, and budgets; it is not enacted. Three-fourths of state legislatures would have to approve it within seven years of submission. Its rules would start in the earlier of the tenth budget year after approval or the first budget year following a year when federal spending did not exceed income. Federal spending could exceed income only if three-fifths of all members of each chamber of Congress approved the extra spending by law in a recorded vote. A separate spending cap would start at 20% of the estimated value of goods and services produced in the country and fall by 0.1 percentage point each year, without requiring spending below 16%. Borrowed money would not count as income, and repayment of the amount borrowed would not count as spending. Passing a bill to increase the money the federal government collects, or raising the limit on federal debt held by the public, would also require three-fifths approval in each chamber in a recorded vote. The President would have to propose a budget with spending no higher than income, and federal departments and agencies would have to justify each funding item and identify a lower amount that would still cover their essential functions. Congress could waive the rules during a declared war. The text also allows waivers during military conflict without clearly specifying the approval process for that case; for an imminent, serious military threat or a natural disaster, it provides for a formal declaration approved by two-thirds of each chamber that becomes law.
That the following article is proposed as an amendment to the Constitution of the United States, which shall be valid to all intents and purposes as part of the Constitution when ratified by the legislatures of three-fourths of the several States within seven years after the date of its submission for ratification:
2025-01-03: Introduced in House
Total outlays for any fiscal year shall not exceed total receipts for that fiscal year, unless three-fifths of the whole number of each House of Congress shall provide by law for a specific excess of outlays over receipts by a rollcall vote, but in no event shall total outlays for any fiscal year exceed the following: for the first fiscal year for which this article takes effect, 20 percent of the estimated gross domestic product of the United States for that year, and for each subsequent fiscal year, a percentage of the estimated gross domestic product equal to the applicable percentage for the preceding fiscal year reduced by .1 percentage point. Under this section, total spending for any fiscal year is not required to be less than 16 percent of the estimated gross domestic product of the United States.
The limit on the debt of the United States held by the public shall not be increased, unless three-fifths of the whole number of each House shall provide by law for such an increase by a rollcall vote.
No bill to increase revenue shall become law unless approved by a three-fifths majority of the whole number of each House by a rollcall vote.
Total receipts shall include all receipts of the United States Government except those derived from borrowing. Total outlays shall include all outlays of the United States Government except for those for repayment of debt principal.
Prior to each fiscal year, the President shall transmit to the Congress a proposed budget for the United States Government for that fiscal year in which total outlays do not exceed total receipts.
The justification shall include a justification of each line item in the budget of that department or agency based upon its effect on carrying out its mission and its effect, if any, on the gross domestic product of the United States and an additional funding level below the requested number that would allow that department or agency to complete all of its critical mission functions.
The Congress may waive the provisions of this article for any fiscal year in which a declaration of war is in effect. The provisions of this article may be waived for any fiscal year in which the United States is engaged in military conflict or after any event which causes an imminent and serious military threat to national security and is so declared by a joint resolution or during which a natural disaster is declared by a joint resolution, adopted by a vote by two-thirds of each House, which becomes law.
This article shall take effect beginning with the earlier of the tenth fiscal year beginning after its ratification or the first fiscal year beginning after any fiscal year in which the budget of the United States is not in deficit.
Section 1 would generally prohibit annual federal spending from exceeding receipts. A law authorizing a specific excess would require a recorded vote of three-fifths of the full membership of each chamber of Congress.
Total outlays for any fiscal year shall not exceed total receipts for that fiscal year, unless three-fifths of the whole number of each House of Congress shall provide by law for a specific excess of outlays over receipts by a rollcall vote
Section 1 would also cap spending at 20 percent of estimated gross domestic product in the first effective fiscal year. The cap would decline by 0.1 percentage point each year, but this section would not require spending below 16 percent of estimated gross domestic product. Authorizing a deficit under Section 1 would not override this cap; Section 8 separately provides waivers.
but in no event shall total outlays for any fiscal year exceed the following: for the first fiscal year for which this article takes effect, 20 percent of the estimated gross domestic product of the United States for that year, and for each subsequent fiscal year, a percentage of the estimated gross domestic product equal to the applicable percentage for the preceding fiscal year reduced by .1 percentage point. Under this section, total spending for any fiscal year is not required to be less than 16 percent of the estimated gross domestic product of the United States.
The Congress may waive the provisions of this article for any fiscal year in which a declaration of war is in effect.
Section 2 would require a law approved by recorded votes of three-fifths of the full membership of each chamber to raise the limit on federal debt held by the public.
2. The limit on the debt of the United States held by the public shall not be increased, unless three-fifths of the whole number of each House shall provide by law for such an increase by a rollcall vote.
Section 3 would require the President to submit a budget before each fiscal year with proposed spending no greater than receipts.
3. Prior to each fiscal year, the President shall transmit to the Congress a proposed budget for the United States Government for that fiscal year in which total outlays do not exceed total receipts.
Section 4 would require any bill increasing revenue to receive recorded approval from three-fifths of the full membership of each chamber before becoming law.
4. No bill to increase revenue shall become law unless approved by a three-fifths majority of the whole number of each House by a rollcall vote.
Section 5 would require presidential budget plans to include each department’s or agency’s funding justification. Each budget line would need an explanation of its effects on the agency’s mission and, if any, gross domestic product. Agencies would also have to identify a lower funding level sufficient for all critical mission functions.
5. Any budget plan for a fiscal year for the Government submitted by the President to the Congress shall include a justification by each department or agency of the Government for any funding proposed for that department or agency in that plan. The justification shall include a justification of each line item in the budget of that department or agency based upon its effect on carrying out its mission and its effect, if any, on the gross domestic product of the United States and an additional funding level below the requested number that would allow that department or agency to complete all of its critical mission functions.
Section 6 would count all federal receipts except borrowing and all federal spending except repayment of debt principal.
6. Total receipts shall include all receipts of the United States Government except those derived from borrowing. Total outlays shall include all outlays of the United States Government except for those for repayment of debt principal.
Section 7 would direct Congress to enforce and implement the amendment through legislation, which could use estimates of spending and receipts.
7. The Congress shall enforce and implement this article by appropriate legislation, which may rely on estimates of outlays and receipts.
Section 8 would allow Congress to waive the amendment for fiscal years when a declaration of war is in effect. It also provides waiver grounds involving military conflict, an event causing an imminent and serious military threat to national security, or a natural disaster. Its second sentence includes joint-resolution requirements and a two-thirds vote of each chamber followed by the resolution becoming law, but does not clearly allocate those requirements among all the listed grounds.
8. The Congress may waive the provisions of this article for any fiscal year in which a declaration of war is in effect. The provisions of this article may be waived for any fiscal year in which the United States is engaged in military conflict or after any event which causes an imminent and serious military threat to national security and is so declared by a joint resolution or during which a natural disaster is declared by a joint resolution, adopted by a vote by two-thirds of each House, which becomes law.
Section 9 would make the amendment effective at the earlier of two points: the tenth fiscal year beginning after ratification, or the first fiscal year beginning after a fiscal year in which the federal budget has no deficit.
9. This article shall take effect beginning with the earlier of the tenth fiscal year beginning after its ratification or the first fiscal year beginning after any fiscal year in which the budget of the United States is not in deficit.
The supplied March 27, 2025 source snapshot records introduction in the House and referral to the House Judiciary Committee on January 3, 2025.
Source snapshot updated 2025-03-27T08:07:25Z. 2025-01-03: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary. 2025-01-03: Introduced in House
A closer look
Reviewed version: Introduced in House · 2025-01-03. These findings describe provisions and who may benefit; they are not judgments of waste, corruption, or motive.
This review covers the supplied bill text. “None identified” does not rule out provisions in later versions or accompanying reports and disclosures.
Provisions outside the bill’s main subject, or policy changes attached to appropriations.
None identified in the reviewed text
No unrelated provisions or appropriations policy riders were identified after reviewing the complete supplied Introduced in House text. This conclusion is limited to that version and does not establish absence in other versions or accompanying materials.
Spending directed to particular recipients or places outside ordinary competitive or formula-based allocation.
None identified in the reviewed text
No congressionally directed spending for particular recipients or places was identified in the complete supplied Introduced in House text. This conclusion is limited to that version; the supplied sources do not establish formal earmark status in accompanying disclosures, reports, or other materials.
Narrow exceptions, exemptions, or preferential treatment that warrant a closer look.
None identified in the reviewed text
No materially narrow preferential benefits were identified in the complete supplied Introduced in House text. The generally applicable fiscal rules and waiver provisions do not establish such benefits. This conclusion is limited to the supplied version and does not establish absence in other versions or accompanying materials.
Full text preserved for this analysis. Legislative record snapshot: Mar 27, 2025. How PlainBill uses AI