Proposing a balanced budget amendment to the Constitution requiring that each agency and department's funding is justified.

Referred to the Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights, and Civil Liberties.

Congressional Research Service

Official summary

Version 00 · Introduced in House · Mar 12, 2019

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 (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 President must submit an annual budget in which total outlays do not exceed total receipts and that includes 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.

Read the summary on Congress.gov

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People & committees

Who introduced it

Rep. Perry, Scott [R-PA-10] · R–PA

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.

Apr 8, 2019
Referred to the Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights, and Civil Liberties.
Mar 12, 2019
Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
Mar 12, 2019
Introduced in House
Mar 12, 2019
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 · Mar 12, 2019 Formatted Text PDF Formatted XML

Related bills identified by Congress.gov

Source last updated: Jan 3, 2025. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.

AI Conversation Starters

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Neutral evidence review

Objective

Analyze H.J.Res.50 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.50, 116th Congress: Proposing a balanced budget amendment to the Constitution requiring that each agency and department's funding is justified.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/house-joint-resolution/50

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 2019-03-12.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/116/bills/hjres50/BILLS-116hjres50ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-01-03T02:52:20Z. 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.50 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.50 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.50, 116th Congress: Proposing a balanced budget amendment to the Constitution requiring that each agency and department's funding is justified.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/house-joint-resolution/50

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 2019-03-12.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/116/bills/hjres50/BILLS-116hjres50ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-01-03T02:52:20Z. 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.50 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.50 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.50, 116th Congress: Proposing a balanced budget amendment to the Constitution requiring that each agency and department's funding is justified.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/house-joint-resolution/50

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 2019-03-12.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/116/bills/hjres50/BILLS-116hjres50ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-01-03T02:52:20Z. 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.50 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.50 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.50, 116th Congress: Proposing a balanced budget amendment to the Constitution requiring that each agency and department's funding is justified.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/house-joint-resolution/50

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 2019-03-12.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/116/bills/hjres50/BILLS-116hjres50ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-01-03T02:52:20Z. 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.50 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.