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This resolution would propose an amendment to the U.S. Constitution that requires the federal budget to be balanced each year, meaning that federal spending couldn’t exceed tax revenue collected. The amendment would also prohibit the federal government from spending an amount exceeding 20 percent of U.S. gross domestic product (GDP) and require the president to submit a balanced budget to Congress. The spending restrictions wouldn’t be in effect in a fiscal year when a declared war is in effect, or if three-fifths of the Senate and two-thirds of the House vote to suspend them.

Because it proposes a constitutional amendment, after this resolution’s passage by two-thirds of both chambers of Congress it would have to be ratified by three-fourths of the state legislatures (38 states) to amend the U.S. Constitution.

","official_title":"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.","short_title":null,"popular_title":null,"short_summary":"Constitutional Amendment \n\nThis joint resolution proposes a constitutional amendment prohibiting the total amount of money expended by the United States during a fiscal year from exceeding total revenue received for that fiscal year, excluding revenue from the issuance of bonds, notes, or other obligations of the United States.\n\nThe amendment also: (1) prohibits the total amount of money expended by the United States in any fiscal year from exceeding 20% of the gross domestic product of the United States, and (2) requires the President to submit to Congress an annual budget in which total outlays do not exceed total revenues received.\n\nThe spending restrictions do not apply during a fiscal year in which a declaration of war is in effect, or if three-fifths of the Senate and two-thirds of the House of Representatives vote to suspend the restrictions.","summarized":true,"cost":null,"cost_commentary":"A CBO cost estimate is unavailable.","impact":"American taxpayers and the general public; the federal government; Congress; and the president.","argument_for":"The federal government has lived beyond its means for far too long, racking up a $20 trillion debt that will have to be paid by future generations. 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Should the Constitution Have a Balanced Budget Amendment That Caps Spending at 20% of GDP?