Proposing a balanced budget amendment to the Constitution of the United States.

Referred to the Subcommittee on the Constitution.

H.J.Res.4 through Congress

H.J.Res.4 keeps its number as it moves between the House and Senate.

HouseJan 5, 2011IntroducedOfficial record

Major milestones in the imported record. See all actions.

No Senate action is available in our imported record yet.

Separate related Senate measures (2)

These are different measures identified as related by Congress.gov. Their text and outcomes may differ; they are not the Senate stage of H.J.Res.4.

Related Senate measure: S.J.Res.3 A joint resolution proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States relative to balancing the budget.

Related Senate measure: S.J.Res.24 Joint resolution proposing a balanced budget amendment to the Constitution of the United States.

Congressional Research Service

Official summary

Version 00 · Introduced in House · Jan 5, 2011

Constitutional Amendment - Prohibits outlays for a fiscal year (except those for repayment of debt principal) from exceeding total receipts for that fiscal year (except those derived from borrowing) unless Congress, by a three-fifths rollcall vote of each chamber, authorizes a specific excess of outlays over receipts.

Requires a three-fifths rollcall vote of each chamber to increase the public debt limit. Directs the President to submit a balanced budget to Congress annually. Prohibits any bill to increase revenue from becoming law unless approved by a majority of each chamber by rollcall vote. Authorizes waivers of these provisions when a declaration of war is in effect or under other specified circumstances involving military conflict. Requires Congress, by appropriate legislation, to provide that outlays for natural disasters do not count as outlays under this Amendment.

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People & committees

Who introduced it

Rep. Buchanan, Vern [R-FL-13] · R–FL

Committees

Judiciary Committee

2 cosponsorship records, including any withdrawals

Legislative record

Actions

A procedural vote is different from passage. Passage in one chamber does not establish enactment. Explore the glossary.

Jan 24, 2011
Referred to the Subcommittee on the Constitution.
Jan 5, 2011
Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
Jan 5, 2011
Introduced in House
Jan 5, 2011
Introduced in House

Primary sources

Bill text & related measures

Text links open the official source. We currently store references to these documents.

Introduced in House · Jan 5, 2011 Formatted Text PDF Formatted XML

Related bills identified by Congress.gov

Source last updated: Dec 4, 2025. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.

AI Conversation Starters

Explore the bill from different angles

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Neutral evidence review

Objective

Analyze H.J.Res.4 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss H.J.Res.4, 112th Congress: Proposing a balanced budget amendment to the Constitution of the United States.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/112th-congress/house-joint-resolution/4

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 2011-01-05.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/112/bills/hjres4/BILLS-112hjres4ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-12-04T23:06:11Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Analyze H.J.Res.4 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.

Fairness and public impact

Progressive lens

Examine H.J.Res.4 through a progressive lens, focusing on fairness, access, economic inequality, and effects on vulnerable communities. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and distinguish stated goals from demonstrated outcomes.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss H.J.Res.4, 112th Congress: Proposing a balanced budget amendment to the Constitution of the United States.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/112th-congress/house-joint-resolution/4

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 2011-01-05.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/112/bills/hjres4/BILLS-112hjres4ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-12-04T23:06:11Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine H.J.Res.4 through a progressive lens, focusing on fairness, access, economic inequality, and effects on vulnerable communities. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and distinguish stated goals from demonstrated outcomes.

Institutions and government scope

Conservative lens

Examine H.J.Res.4 through a conservative lens, focusing on fiscal responsibility, institutional stability, federalism, and the scope of government. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and any provisions that challenge this perspective.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss H.J.Res.4, 112th Congress: Proposing a balanced budget amendment to the Constitution of the United States.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/112th-congress/house-joint-resolution/4

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 2011-01-05.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/112/bills/hjres4/BILLS-112hjres4ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-12-04T23:06:11Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine H.J.Res.4 through a conservative lens, focusing on fiscal responsibility, institutional stability, federalism, and the scope of government. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and any provisions that challenge this perspective.

Individual rights and government power

Liberty lens

Examine H.J.Res.4 through a civil-liberties and limited-government lens. Consider individual rights, privacy, voluntary choice, accountability, and government power. Explain tradeoffs, possible safeguards, and the strongest counterarguments without assuming the proposal is beneficial or harmful.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss H.J.Res.4, 112th Congress: Proposing a balanced budget amendment to the Constitution of the United States.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/112th-congress/house-joint-resolution/4

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 2011-01-05.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/112/bills/hjres4/BILLS-112hjres4ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-12-04T23:06:11Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine H.J.Res.4 through a civil-liberties and limited-government lens. Consider individual rights, privacy, voluntary choice, accountability, and government power. Explain tradeoffs, possible safeguards, and the strongest counterarguments without assuming the proposal is beneficial or harmful.