A joint resolution proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the UnitedStates which requires (except during time of war and subject to suspension by Congress) that the total amount of money expended by the United States during any fiscal year not exceed the amount of certain revenue received by the United States during such fiscal year and not to exceed 20 per cent of the gross national product of the United States during the previous calendar year.

Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

S.J.Res.4 through Congress

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

SenateFeb 1, 2011IntroducedOfficial record

Major milestones in the imported record. See all actions.

No House action is available in our imported record yet.

Separate related House measures (1)

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

Related House measure: H.J.Res.116 Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States which requires (except during time of war and subject to suspension by Congress) that the total amount of money expended by the United States during any fiscal year not exceed the amount of certain revenue received by the United States during such fiscal year and not exceed 20 percent of the gross domestic product of the United States during the previous calendar year.

Congressional Research Service

Official summary

Version 00 · Introduced in Senate · Feb 1, 2011

Constitutional Amendment - Prohibits, except in time of a congressionally declared war, federal fiscal year expenditures from exceeding: (1) federal revenues for that fiscal year, except revenue received from the issuance of bonds, notes, or other obligations of the United States; and (2) 20% of the gross national product for the preceding calendar year. Authorizes suspension of these prohibitions by concurrent resolution approved by a three-fifths vote of each chamber.

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

Sen. Shelby, Richard C. [R-AL] · R–AL

Committees

Judiciary Committee

5 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.

Feb 1, 2011
Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
Feb 1, 2011
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S424)
Feb 1, 2011
Introduced in Senate

Primary sources

Bill text & related measures

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

Introduced in Senate · Feb 1, 2011 Formatted Text PDF Formatted XML

Related bills identified by Congress.gov

HJRES 116 · Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States which requires (except during time of war and subject to suspension by Congress) that the total amount of money expended by the United States during any fiscal year not exceed the amount of certain revenue received by the United States during such fiscal year and not exceed 20 percent of the gross domestic product of the United States during the previous calendar year.

Source last updated: Aug 10, 2026. 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 S.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 S.J.Res.4, 112th Congress: A joint resolution proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the UnitedStates which requires (except during time of war and subject to suspension by Congress) that the total amount of money expended by the United States during any fiscal year not exceed the amount of certain revenue received by the United States during such fiscal year and not to exceed 20 per cent of the gross national product of the United States during the previous calendar year.

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

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 2011-02-01.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/112/bills/sjres4/BILLS-112sjres4is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2026-08-10T11:53:54Z. 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 S.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 S.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 S.J.Res.4, 112th Congress: A joint resolution proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the UnitedStates which requires (except during time of war and subject to suspension by Congress) that the total amount of money expended by the United States during any fiscal year not exceed the amount of certain revenue received by the United States during such fiscal year and not to exceed 20 per cent of the gross national product of the United States during the previous calendar year.

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

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 2011-02-01.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/112/bills/sjres4/BILLS-112sjres4is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2026-08-10T11:53:54Z. 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 S.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 S.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 S.J.Res.4, 112th Congress: A joint resolution proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the UnitedStates which requires (except during time of war and subject to suspension by Congress) that the total amount of money expended by the United States during any fiscal year not exceed the amount of certain revenue received by the United States during such fiscal year and not to exceed 20 per cent of the gross national product of the United States during the previous calendar year.

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

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 2011-02-01.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/112/bills/sjres4/BILLS-112sjres4is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2026-08-10T11:53:54Z. 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 S.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 S.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 S.J.Res.4, 112th Congress: A joint resolution proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the UnitedStates which requires (except during time of war and subject to suspension by Congress) that the total amount of money expended by the United States during any fiscal year not exceed the amount of certain revenue received by the United States during such fiscal year and not to exceed 20 per cent of the gross national product of the United States during the previous calendar year.

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

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 2011-02-01.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/112/bills/sjres4/BILLS-112sjres4is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2026-08-10T11:53:54Z. 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 S.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.