SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION G February 6, 1997, Introduced by Senators BENNETT and BOUCHARD and referred to the Committee on Government Operations. A joint resolution ratifying the proposed amendment to the constitution of the United States to require a balanced federal budget. Resolved by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the state of Michigan, That the one hundred fifth Congress of the United States of America, at its session, in both houses, by a constitutional majority of two-thirds of both houses has made the following proposition to amend the constitution of the United States: 1 JOINT RESOLUTION 2 Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States 3 to provide for a balanced budget for the United States Government 4 and for greater accountability in the enactment of tax 5 legislation. 01332'97 TAV 2 1 Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 2 United States of America in Congress assembled (two-thirds of 3 each House concurring therein), That the following article is 4 proposed as an amendment to the Constitution of the United 5 States, which shall be valid to all intents and purposes as part 6 of the Constitution when ratified by the legislatures of 7 three-fourths of the several States within seven years after the 8 date of its submission for ratification: 9 "ARTICLE ________ 10 "SECTION 1. Total outlays for any fiscal year shall not 11 exceed total receipts for that fiscal year, unless three-fifths 12 of the whole number of each House of Congress shall provide by 13 law for a specific excess of outlays over receipts by a rollcall 14 vote. 15 "SECTION 2. The limit on the debt of the United States held 16 by the public shall not be increased, unless three-fifths of the 17 whole number of each House shall provide by law for such an 18 increase by a rollcall vote. 19 "SECTION 3. Prior to each fiscal year, the President shall 20 transmit to the Congress a proposed budget for the United States 21 Government for that fiscal year, in which total outlays do not 22 exceed total receipts. 23 "SECTION 4. No bill to increase revenue shall become law 24 unless approved by a majority of the whole number of each House 25 by a rollcall vote. 26 "SECTION 5. The Congress may waive the provisions of this 27 article for any fiscal year in which a declaration of war is in 01332'97 3 1 effect. The provisions of this article may be waived for any 2 fiscal year in which the United States is engaged in military 3 conflict which causes an imminent and serious military threat to 4 national security and is so declared by a joint resolution, 5 adopted by a majority of the whole number of each House, which 6 becomes law. 7 "SECTION 6. The Congress shall enforce and implement this 8 article by appropriate legislation, which may rely on estimates 9 of outlays and receipts. 10 "SECTION 7. Total receipts shall include all receipts of 11 the United States Government except those derived from 12 borrowing. Total outlays shall include all outlays of the United 13 States Government except for those for repayment of debt 14 principal. 15 "SECTION 8. This article shall take effect beginning with 16 fiscal year 2002 or with the second fiscal year beginning after 17 its ratification, whichever is later.". 18 Therefore, in the name of, and on behalf of, the people of 19 the state of Michigan, we ratify, approve, and assent to the pro- 20 posed amendment to the constitution of the United States. 21 Resolved further, That certified copies of this joint reso- 22 lution be transmitted by the governor of the state of Michigan, 23 to the president of the United States, the archivist of the 24 United States, the president of the Senate of the United States, 25 and the speaker of the House of Representatives of the United 26 States. 01332'97 Final page. TAV