---
title: "A joint resolution proposing a balanced budget amendment to the Constitution of the United States."
identifier: "118-SJRES-19"
congress: 118
bill_number: 19
bill_type: "SJRES"
version_code: "is"
version_type: "Introduced in Senate"
bill_url: "https://chamberzero.com/congresses/118/bills/sjres/19"
source: "https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/senate-joint-resolution/19"
site: "Chamber Zero"
site_url: "https://chamberzero.com"
rendered_at: "2026-06-04T02:55:06.788Z"
---
That the following article is proposed as an amendment to the Constitution of the United States, which shall be valid to all intents and purposes as part of the Constitution when ratified by the legislatures of three-fourths of the several States within seven years after the date of its submission for ratification:
> "ARTICLE —SECTION. 1Expenditures and receipts shall be balanced, which may occur over more than one year. Expenditures shall include all expenditures of the United States except those for payment of debt, and receipts shall include all receipts of the United States except those derived from borrowing. Congress shall achieve balance within ten years following the ratification of this article.SECTION. 2For emergency situations, two-thirds of the House of Representatives and the Senate may for limited times authorize expenditures exceeding those pursuant to rules established under section 1. Debts incurred from such expenditures shall be paid as soon as practicable."