Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States to restrict annual deficits by limiting the public debt of the United States and requiring a favorable vote of the people on any law to exceed such limits.

For Further Action See H.J.Res.1.

Congressional Research Service

Official summary

Version 00 · Introduced in House · Jan 4, 1995

Constitutional Amendment - Prohibits the public debt from increasing by more than one percent each year unless authorized by a law approved by a majority of the Members of the Senate and the House of Representatives. Requires such law to be approved by a majority vote of the electorate before it takes effect. Declares that such prohibition does not apply to public debt contracted to: (1) repel invasion of the United States; (2) defend the United States in time of war; (3) support the U.S. armed forces in time of war; or (4) redeem a previous debt obligation of the United States.

Read the summary on Congress.gov

PlainBill analysis is coming later. This page presents official source data. We have not yet published a PlainBill explanation for this bill.

People & committees

Who introduced it

Rep. Pickett, Owen B. [D-VA-2] · D–VA

Committees

Judiciary Committee

0 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, 1995
For Further Action See H.J.Res.1.
Jan 4, 1995
Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
Jan 4, 1995
Introduced in House
Jan 4, 1995
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 4, 1995 Formatted Text PDF

Related bills identified by Congress.gov

HJRES 1 · Proposing a balanced budget amendment to the Constitution of the United States.

Source last updated: Nov 21, 2018. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.

AI Conversation Starters

Explore the bill from different angles

Choose a perspective, copy a prompt, and paste it into your preferred AI. Each prompt includes the bill version and available official source links, and asks for counterarguments as well as supporting evidence.

Neutral evidence review

Objective

Analyze H.J.Res.40 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.40, 104th Congress: Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States to restrict annual deficits by limiting the public debt of the United States and requiring a favorable vote of the people on any law to exceed such limits.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/104th-congress/house-joint-resolution/40

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 1995-01-04.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/104/bills/hjres40/BILLS-104hjres40ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2018-11-21T20:27:43Z. 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.40 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.40 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.40, 104th Congress: Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States to restrict annual deficits by limiting the public debt of the United States and requiring a favorable vote of the people on any law to exceed such limits.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/104th-congress/house-joint-resolution/40

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 1995-01-04.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/104/bills/hjres40/BILLS-104hjres40ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2018-11-21T20:27:43Z. 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.40 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.40 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.40, 104th Congress: Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States to restrict annual deficits by limiting the public debt of the United States and requiring a favorable vote of the people on any law to exceed such limits.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/104th-congress/house-joint-resolution/40

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 1995-01-04.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/104/bills/hjres40/BILLS-104hjres40ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2018-11-21T20:27:43Z. 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.40 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.40 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.40, 104th Congress: Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States to restrict annual deficits by limiting the public debt of the United States and requiring a favorable vote of the people on any law to exceed such limits.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/104th-congress/house-joint-resolution/40

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 1995-01-04.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/104/bills/hjres40/BILLS-104hjres40ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2018-11-21T20:27:43Z. 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.40 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.