Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States to provide for a balanced budget for the United States Government and for greater accountability in the enactment of tax legislation and to allow an item veto of appropriation bills.

See H.J.Res.103.

Congressional Research Service

Official summary

Version 00 · Introduced in House · Jan 5, 1993

Constitutional Amendment - Requires the Congress and the President, prior to each fiscal year, to agree on an estimate of total receipts for that fiscal year by enactment of a law devoted solely to that subject. Prohibits outlays for that year from exceeding this amount unless the Congress, by a three-fifths roll call vote of each House, authorizes a specific excess of outlays over receipts. Requires a two-thirds roll call vote of each House to increase the public debt. Directs the President to submit a balanced budget to the Congress. Requires a two-thirds roll call vote of the total membership of each House before any bill to increase revenue may become law. Waives these provisions when a declaration of war is in effect. Grants the President the authority to disapprove any appropriation or provision and approval any other appropriation or provision in the same appropriation bill.

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People & committees

Who introduced it

Rep. Zimmer, Dick [R-NJ-12] · R–NJ

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.

Mar 17, 1994
See H.J.Res.103.
Feb 10, 1993
Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic and Commercial Law.
Jan 5, 1993
Referred to the House Committee on Judiciary.
Jan 5, 1993
Introduced in House
Jan 5, 1993
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, 1993 Formatted Text PDF

Related bills identified by Congress.gov

HJRES 103 · Proposing an amendment to the Constitution to provide for a balanced budget for the United States Government and for greater accountability in the enactment of tax legislation.

Source last updated: Jan 2, 2025. 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.54 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.54, 103rd Congress: Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States to provide for a balanced budget for the United States Government and for greater accountability in the enactment of tax legislation and to allow an item veto of appropriation bills.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/103rd-congress/house-joint-resolution/54

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 1993-01-05.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/103/bills/hjres54/BILLS-103hjres54ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-01-02T17:21:41Z. 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.54 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.54 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.54, 103rd Congress: Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States to provide for a balanced budget for the United States Government and for greater accountability in the enactment of tax legislation and to allow an item veto of appropriation bills.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/103rd-congress/house-joint-resolution/54

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 1993-01-05.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/103/bills/hjres54/BILLS-103hjres54ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-01-02T17:21:41Z. 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.54 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.54 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.54, 103rd Congress: Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States to provide for a balanced budget for the United States Government and for greater accountability in the enactment of tax legislation and to allow an item veto of appropriation bills.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/103rd-congress/house-joint-resolution/54

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 1993-01-05.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/103/bills/hjres54/BILLS-103hjres54ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-01-02T17:21:41Z. 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.54 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.54 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.54, 103rd Congress: Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States to provide for a balanced budget for the United States Government and for greater accountability in the enactment of tax legislation and to allow an item veto of appropriation bills.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/103rd-congress/house-joint-resolution/54

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 1993-01-05.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/103/bills/hjres54/BILLS-103hjres54ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-01-02T17:21:41Z. 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.54 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.