Proposing a balanced budget amendment to the Constitution of the United States.

# Summary of HJRES 17: Balanced Budget Amendment **What the bill would do:** This bill proposes an amendment to the U.S. Constitution that would require the federal government to balance its budget each year. Under the amendment, Congress could not spend more money than it receives in revenues unless two-thirds of both the House and Senate vote to approve the deficit spending. The President would also be required to submit a balanced budget proposal each year.

The amendment carves out exceptions for money borrowed to pay back existing national debt. **Who it affects:** This would impact Congress, the President, and ultimately all Americans and businesses that interact with federal government programs and policies. If enacted, it could significantly constrain federal spending on everything from defense to healthcare to infrastructure, unless Congress votes to override the requirement with a supermajority. **Current status and key context:** The bill is currently in committee and has not advanced further in the legislative process. Proposing a constitutional amendment is one of the most difficult legislative tasks—it requires approval from two-thirds of both chambers of Congress and then ratification by three-fourths of state legislatures. While balanced budget amendments have been proposed many times over the decades, none has successfully passed Congress and been ratified.