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.

Referred to the Subcommittee on the Constitution.

Congressional Research Service

Official summary

Version 00 · Introduced in House · Jan 7, 2003

Constitutional Amendment - Requires that prior to each fiscal year, the Congress and the President agree on an estimate of total receipts for that fiscal year by enactment into law of a joint resolution.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 House, authorizes a specific excess of outlays over receipts.Requires that the Congress provide by law for the repayment in the ensuing fiscal year of outlays that exceed actual receipts for a given year.Requires a three-fifths rollcall vote of each House 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 House by rollcall vote.Authorizes waivers of these provisions when a declaration of war is in effect.

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People & committees

Who introduced it

Rep. Emerson, Jo Ann [R-MO-8] · R–MO

Committees

Judiciary Committee

1 cosponsorship records, including any withdrawals

Rep. Tiberi, Patrick J. [R-OH-12]

Legislative record

Actions

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

Mar 6, 2003
Referred to the Subcommittee on the Constitution.
Jan 7, 2003
Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
Jan 7, 2003
Introduced in House
Jan 7, 2003
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 7, 2003 Formatted Text PDF

Related bills identified by Congress.gov

No related bills are listed in this snapshot. This does not establish whether the proposal has appeared in earlier Congresses.

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.6 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.6, 108th Congress: 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.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/108th-congress/house-joint-resolution/6

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 2003-01-07.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/108/bills/hjres6/BILLS-108hjres6ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-01-02T16:20:14Z. 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.6 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.6 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.6, 108th Congress: 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.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/108th-congress/house-joint-resolution/6

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 2003-01-07.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/108/bills/hjres6/BILLS-108hjres6ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-01-02T16:20:14Z. 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.6 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.6 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.6, 108th Congress: 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.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/108th-congress/house-joint-resolution/6

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 2003-01-07.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/108/bills/hjres6/BILLS-108hjres6ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-01-02T16:20:14Z. 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.6 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.6 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.6, 108th Congress: 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.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/108th-congress/house-joint-resolution/6

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 2003-01-07.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/108/bills/hjres6/BILLS-108hjres6ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-01-02T16:20:14Z. 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.6 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.