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H.J.Res. 2: Proposing a balanced budget amendment to the Constitution of the United States.

119th Congress · introduced 2025-01-03 · Economics and Public Finance · Latest: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.

federal

What does this mean?

Official title

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

Plain summary

This joint resolution proposes a constitutional amendment that prohibits total outlays for any fiscal year from exceeding total receipts for that fiscal year. The amendment also prohibits (1) increases to the federal debt limit, and (2) a bill that increases revenue from becoming law unless the bill has been approved by two-thirds of each chamber of Congress with a roll call vote.

Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in House), quoted unchanged (nonpartisan). Read the source.

What a vote does

A “Yea” vote

If it passes both chambers and is signed, it becomes law.

A “Nay” vote

If it is not passed, current law stays as it is.

PSI Sci description of the legislative step (not an opinion).

What does this mean? (plain words)

Official text

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

Source: Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in House)

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The strongest published arguments

Arguments for (supporters)

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Arguments against (opponents)

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Alternatives

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Officials and money

Sponsor: Rep. Biggs, Andy [R-AZ-5] · 0 cosponsors

Money: No cost estimate published yet. No linked contracts or vendors yet.

Words on this page, explained (4)
Bill
A proposed law. It becomes law only if it passes the legislature and is signed by the president or governor (or a veto is overridden).
Constitutional amendment
A change to a constitution. In Texas the Legislature proposes an amendment with a joint resolution passed by two-thirds of the members of each chamber. It takes effect only if a majority of the people voting on it approve it. In Florida, an amendment needs at least 60% of the votes cast on it to pass.
Joint resolution
In Texas, the type of measure the Legislature uses to propose a constitutional amendment (marked HJR or SJR). The governor does not sign or veto it; the voters decide. In Congress a joint resolution can also be used like a bill. In Florida, a joint resolution passed by three-fifths of the members of each chamber puts a constitutional amendment on the ballot.
Roll-call vote
A vote where each member's position is recorded by name, so the public can see how every member voted. "Yea" means yes, "Nay" means no, "Present" means the member was there but did not take a side.

Plain meanings written from linked sources. All words.

Sources

Record fed-us-cong119-hjres2 · catalog fed-us-congress-bills-cong119 · updated 2026-11-03 by psicol fed-bills