US Congress Senate Joint Resolution 2 (Prior Session Legislation)

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Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 3-0)
Status: Introduced on January 6 2015 - 25% progression, died in chamber
Action: 2016-03-16 - Committee on the Judiciary. Hearings held.
Text: Latest bill text (Introduced) [PDF]

A joint resolution proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States requiring that the Federal budget be balanced. 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. 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.

A joint resolution proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States requiring that the Federal budget be balanced.

Sen. Mike Lee [R-UT]

Sen. David Vitter [R-LA]

Sen. Chuck Grassley [R-IA]

Date	Chamber	Action
2016-03-16	Senate	Committee on the Judiciary. Hearings held.
2015-01-06	Senate	Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

HJR8 (Related) 2015-01-12 - Referred to the Subcommittee on the Constitution and Civil Justice.
HJR85 (Related) 2016-03-03 - Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.

Type	Source
Summary	https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/senate-joint-resolution/2/all-info
Text	https://www.congress.gov/114/bills/sjres2/BILLS-114sjres2is.pdf