US Congress House Joint Resolution 8 (Prior Session Legislation)

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Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 2-0)
Status: Introduced on January 6 2015 - 25% progression, died in committee
Action: 2015-01-12 - Referred to the Subcommittee on the Constitution and Civil Justice.
Pending: House Subcommittee on the Constitution And Civil Justice Committee
Text: Latest bill text (Introduced) [PDF]

Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States requiring that the Federal budget be balanced and that an increase in the Federal debt requires approval from a majority of the legislatures of the several States. This joint resolution proposes a constitutional amendment prohibiting total outlays for a fiscal year from exceeding total receipts for that fiscal year or 18% of the U.S. gross domestic product unless Congress authorizes the excess by a two-thirds vote of each chamber. The prohibition excludes outlays for repayment of debt principal and receipts derived from borrowing. The amendment requires a two-thirds vote of each chamber of Congress to levy a new tax, increase the rate of any tax, or increase the debt limit. Approval by a majority of the state legislatures is required to increase the federal debt. The amendment provides any Member of Congress with standing and a cause of action to seek judicial enforcement of this amendment if authorized by a petition signed by one-third of the Members of either house of Congress. Courts are prohibited from ordering any increase in revenue to enforce this amendment.

Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States requiring that the Federal budget be balanced and that an increase in the Federal debt requires approval from a majority of the legislatures of the several States.

Rep. David Schweikert [R-AZ]

Rep. Jody Hice [R-GA]

Date	Chamber	Action
2015-01-12	House	Referred to the Subcommittee on the Constitution and Civil Justice.
2015-01-06	House	Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
2015-01-06	House	Introduced in House

SJR2 (Related) 2016-03-16 - Committee on the Judiciary. Hearings held.
HJR85 (Related) 2016-03-03 - Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.

Type	Source
Summary	https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/house-joint-resolution/8/all-info
Text	https://www.congress.gov/114/bills/hjres8/BILLS-114hjres8ih.pdf