Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States to provide certain line item veto authority to the President.

# Summary of HJRES 8: Presidential Line Item Veto Amendment **What the Bill Does** This proposal would amend the Constitution to give the President power to use a "line item veto"—the ability to reject specific spending items within a bill without vetoing the entire legislation. Currently, presidents must accept or reject bills in their entirety. If passed, the President would have 10 days to notify Congress of any spending cuts they make using this power, allowing lawmakers to override the cuts if two-thirds of both the House and Senate vote to disapprove. **Who It Affects and Key Provisions** This would primarily affect Congress and the President's relationship over federal spending. The amendment would apply to appropriations bills (legislation that funds government operations).

The main protection for Congress is the two-thirds override threshold—a high bar that prevents the President from unilaterally cutting spending Congress approved. However, a constitutional amendment requires approval from two-thirds of both chambers and ratification by three-fourths of states, making it extremely difficult to pass. **Current Status** The bill is currently in committee, meaning it has not advanced for a full vote. It was introduced by Rep. Tom McClintock (R-CA) and remains in the early stages of the legislative process.