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S.J.Res. 97: A joint resolution proposing a balanced budget amendment to the Constitution of the United States.

119th Congress · introduced 2025-11-20 · Economics and Public Finance · Latest: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

federal

What does this mean?

Official title

A joint resolution proposing a balanced budget amendment to the Constitution of the United States.

Plain summary

This joint resolution proposes a constitutional amendment that requires federal expenditures and receipts to be balanced, which may occur over more than one year. Under the amendment, expenditures include all federal expenditures except those for payment of debt. Receipts do not include receipts derived from borrowing. The amendment requires Congress to achieve balance within 10 years of the ratification of the amendment. In an emergency situation, Congress may authorize additional expenditures that are not otherwise permitted by the amendment if two-thirds of the House of Representatives and the Senate agree to pass the bill. The additional expenditures must be for a limited time, and debts incurred from the expenditures must be paid as soon as practicable.

Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in Senate), 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

A joint resolution proposing a balanced budget amendment to the Constitution of the United States.

Source: Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in Senate)

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The strongest published arguments

Arguments for (supporters)

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Alternatives

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Officials and money

Sponsor: Sen. Husted, Jon [R-OH] · 2 cosponsors

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

Words on this page, explained (3)
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.

Plain meanings written from linked sources. All words.

Sources

Record fed-us-cong119-sjres97 · catalog fed-us-congress-bills-cong119 · updated 2026-11-03 by psicol fed-bills