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Proposed amendment would require federal budget to balance each year

In committeeH.J.Res. 10Latest action

Sponsor: Zachary Nunn · Representative · IA

AIDecoded by AI · checked against the record
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Official title: Proposing a balanced budget amendment to the Constitution of the United States.

119th Congress

Topics: Jobs & the economy

Introduced:

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In plain words

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A proposed constitutional amendment would force the federal government to balance its budget unless of Congress votes otherwise.

55-second read · 4 questions answered below

What does this do?

This proposed constitutional amendment would require the federal government to not spend more than it collects each year, unless of both the House and Senate approve otherwise through a . The same three-fifths threshold would apply to , the president would have to submit a balanced budget each year, and tax increases would need majority approval with a recorded vote. Rules could be waived during a declared war or serious military conflict, and the amendment wouldn't take effect until five years after state ratification.

Who does it affect?

This would affect virtually everyone in the country, since it could reshape federal funding for programs like Social Security, Medicare, defense, and other services.

Why does it matter?

Supporters argue it would force fiscal discipline and reduce long-term debt, while critics worry it could limit the government's ability to respond quickly to recessions, disasters, or other crises requiring flexible spending. As a constitutional amendment, it faces a very high bar: two-thirds approval in both chambers of Congress and ratification by three-fourths of state legislatures.

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Where does it stand?

  1. IntroducedJan 3, 2025
  2. House committeeYou are here · Jan 3, 2025
  3. House vote
  4. Senate
  5. Sent to the states

Right now: a House committee is reviewing it. If the Senate changes it, it goes back to the House. Both chambers have to pass the same text, each by two thirds. A proposed constitutional amendment never goes to the president: it goes to the states, and three quarters of them have to ratify it before it takes effect.

Latest action: — Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.

Data as of October 9, 2026
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