Bills · HJRES 3
IN COMMITTEE· 119TH CONGRESS
House Joint Res.HJRES 3Income tax ratesConstitution and constitutional amendments
Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States relative to balancing the budget.
INTRO JAN 3· LAST ACTION JAN 3
READING
3MIN
COSPONSORS
1
READER REACTIONS0 TOTAL
NO VOTES YET · BE THE FIRST
- Introduced only
LEGISLATIVE PROGRESS
STEP 2 / 8Introduced
In Committee
Reported
Passed House
Passed Senate
Conference
To President
Became Law
WHAT THE BILL DOES
AI-writtenThis bill matters because it proposes a fundamental shift in how the U.S. government manages its money. If it becomes law, it would enshrine fiscal discipline directly into the Constitution, potentially preventing large annual budget deficits and slowing the growth of the national debt. For voters, this could mean a more stable long-term financial outlook for the country, but it could also limit the government's ability to quickly respond to economic crises, natural disasters, or other emergencies through increased spending.
Without this amendment, the current system allows Congress and the President to make spending and taxation decisions by simple majority votes, often leading to deficits. If it passes, it would make it much harder to increase spending or taxes, requiring broader consensus. This could lead to difficult choices about which government programs to fund and at what levels, directly impacting services from national defense to social programs, and could change how the U.S. government responds to future challenges.
KEY PROVISIONS
5AI-extractedPROVISION 01
Requires total government spending (outlays) not to exceed total income (receipts) in any fiscal year, unless two-thirds of both houses of Congress vote to allow an exception.
This aims to prevent annual budget deficits, forcing the government to generally 'live within its means' each year.
PROVISION 02
Caps total government spending at 18 percent of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of the United States for the prior calendar year, unless two-thirds of both houses of Congress vote to exceed this limit.
This sets an additional ceiling on the size of government spending relative to the overall economy, regardless of revenue levels.
PROVISION 03
Requires a two-thirds vote in both houses of Congress for any bill that imposes a new tax or increases existing tax rates or total revenue.
This makes it significantly more difficult for Congress to raise taxes, requiring broad bipartisan support to do so.
PROVISION 04
Requires a three-fifths vote in both houses of Congress to increase the statutory limit on the national debt.
This makes it harder to raise the national debt ceiling, potentially forcing more serious debates about government spending.
PROVISION 05
Allows the balanced budget and spending cap rules, as well as the debt limit rule, to be waived during a declared war or in certain national security emergencies, with specific congressional votes.
This provides critical flexibility for the government to respond to major crises without being bound by strict budget rules.
SPONSORSHIP
1 + 1
R· Florida
YRS IN OFFICE
19
BILLS LED
46
COSPONSOR BREAKDOWNBIPARTISAN · 0%
DEM 0 REP 1 IND 0
ACTION TIMELINE
3 EVENTSJAN 3
Introduced in House
JAN 3
Introduced in House
JAN 3
Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
BILL INFO
TypeHouse Joint Resolution
NumberHJRES 3
Congress119th
StatusIn Committee
IntroducedJan 3, 2025
Last actionJan 3, 2025
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IN COMMITTEE· 119TH CONGRESS · JUDICIARY COMMITTEE · INTRODUCED JAN 3, 2025
House Joint Res.HJRES 3Income tax ratesConstitution and constitutional amendments
Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States relative to balancing the budget.
INTRODUCED JAN 3, 2025· LAST ACTION JAN 3, 2025
PASSAGE CHANCES
—%
READING
3 min
COSPONSORS
1
COMPLEXITY
Moderate
