A joint resolution proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States to require (except during time of war and subject to suspension by Congress) that the total amount of money expended by the United States during any fiscal year not exceed the amount of certain revenue received by the United States during such fiscal year and not exceed 20 percent of the gross domestic product of the United States during the previous calendar year.

IIA 116TH CONGRESS 1ST SESSION S. J. RES. 19 Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States to require (except during time of war and subject to suspension by Congress) that the total amount of money expended by the United States during any fiscal year not exceed the amount of certain revenue received by the United States during such fiscal year and not exceed 20 percent of the gross domestic product of the United States during the previous calendar year. IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES MAY 2, 2019 Mr. SHELBY introduced the following joint resolution; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary JOINT RESOLUTION Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States to require (except during time of war and subject to suspension by Congress) that the total amount of money expended by the United States during any fiscal year not exceed the amount of certain revenue received by the United States during such fiscal year and not exceed 20 percent of the gross domestic product of the United States during the previous calendar year. Now, therefore, be it Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives 1 of the United States of America in Congress assembled 2 VerDate Sep 11 2014 21:08 May 02, 2019 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\SJ19.IS SJ19 pbinns on DSK79D2C42PROD with BILLS 2 •SJ 19 IS (two-thirds of each House concurring therein), That the fol- 1 lowing article is proposed as an amendment to the Con- 2 stitution of the United States, which shall be valid to all 3 intents and purposes as part of the Constitution when 4 ratified by the legislatures of three-fourths of the several 5 States within seven years after the date of its submission 6 by the Congress: 7 ‘‘ARTICLE — 8 ‘‘SECTION 1. The total amount of money expended 9 by the United States in any fiscal year shall not exceed 10 the total amount of revenue received by the United States 11 during such fiscal year, excluding revenue received from 12 the issuance of bonds, notes, or other obligations of the 13 United States. 14 ‘‘SECTION 2. The total amount of money expended 15 by the United States in any fiscal year shall not exceed 16 the amount equal to 20 percent of the gross domestic 17 product of the United States during the last calendar year 18 ending before the beginning of such fiscal year. 19 ‘‘SECTION 3. Sections 1 and 2 of this article shall 20 not apply during any fiscal year during any part of which 21 the United States is at war, as declared by Congress under 22 section 8 of article I of the Constitution of the United 23 States. 24 VerDate Sep 11 2014 21:08 May 02, 2019 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\SJ19.IS SJ19 pbinns on DSK79D2C42PROD with BILLS 3 •SJ 19 IS ‘‘SECTION 4. Sections 1 and 2 of this article may be 1 suspended by a concurrent resolution approved by a three- 2 fifths vote of the Members of each House of Congress. 3 Any suspension of sections 1 and 2 of this article under 4 this section shall be effective only during the fiscal year 5 during which such suspension is approved. 6 ‘‘SECTION 5. This article shall take effect on the first 7 day of the first fiscal year beginning after the date of the 8 ratification of this article. 9 ‘‘SECTION 6. Congress shall have the power to en- 10 force this article by appropriate legislation.’’. 11 Æ VerDate Sep 11 2014 21:08 May 02, 2019 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6301 E:\BILLS\SJ19.IS SJ19 pbinns on DSK79D2C42PROD with BILLS