{"format":1,"id":"119-hjres-139","congress":119,"number":"H.J.Res. 139","kind":"joint_resolution","group":"bills","title":"Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States requiring a balanced budget for the Federal Government.","title_source":"Display Title","official_title":"Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States requiring a balanced budget for the Federal Government.","titles":[{"type":"Official Title as Introduced","title":"Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States requiring a balanced budget for the Federal Government."},{"type":"Display Title","title":"Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States requiring a balanced budget for the Federal Government."}],"outcome":"failed_house","law_number":null,"introduced":"2026-01-09","chambers":{"house":{"status":"roll_call","date":"2026-03-18","vote":{"id":"119-2026-h95","question":"On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass","title":"Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States requiring a balanced budget for the Federal Government","result":"Failed","yea":211,"nay":207,"present":0,"not_voting":14,"source":"https://clerk.house.gov/evs/2026/roll095.xml"}},"senate":{"status":"na","date":null,"vote":null}},"president":{"status":"na","date":null},"vice_president_tie_breaker":null,"latest_action":{"text":"On motion to suspend the rules and pass the resolution Failed by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 211 - 207 (Roll no. 95).","date":"2026-03-18"},"nominees":null,"amendments":[],"other_votes":[],"crs_summary":{"date":"2026-02-25","stage":"Reported to House","blocks":[{"k":"p","t":"This joint resolution proposes a constitutional amendment prohibiting total federal expenditures for a year from exceeding the average annual federal receipts collected in the three prior years, adjusted for changes in the population of U.S. citizens and inflation. Expenditures for payment of debt and receipts derived from borrowing are excluded."},{"k":"p","t":"Under the amendment, Congress may authorize specific expenditures in excess of the limit with (1) a roll call vote of two-thirds of each chamber, or (2) a roll call vote for any year in which a declaration of war is in effect."},{"k":"p","t":"The amendment also prohibits any bill to levy a new tax or increase the rate of any tax from becoming law unless it has been approved by a roll call vote of two-thirds of the whole number of each chamber of Congress."},{"k":"p","t":"The requirements take effect in the fifth year beginning after ratification of the amendment."}],"words":148},"summary":{"main_subject":{"text":"Proposes a constitutional amendment that limits total federal expenditures for a year to the average annual receipts of the three prior years, adjusted for citizen population and inflation, with stated exceptions and a two-thirds vote requirement for new or increased taxes.","cites":[{"label":"Text","href":"https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-joint-resolution/139/text/rh#H5CA6424FEEB14C6FA80B4948DC0CB500"}]},"core_areas":["Limit on total federal expenditures based on prior-year receipts","Exceptions to the expenditure limit by roll call vote or during a declared war","Two-thirds vote requirement for new or increased taxes"],"what_it_does":[{"text":"Proposes an article that becomes part of the Constitution when ratified by the legislatures of three-fourths of the several States.","cite":{"label":"Text","href":"https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-joint-resolution/139/text/rh#H5CA6424FEEB14C6FA80B4948DC0CB500"}},{"text":"Provides that total expenditures for a year shall not exceed the average annual receipts collected in the three prior years, adjusted in proportion to changes in the population of citizens of the United States and inflation.","cite":{"label":"Text","href":"https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-joint-resolution/139/text/rh#H5CA6424FEEB14C6FA80B4948DC0CB500"}},{"text":"Excludes expenditures for payment of debt from total expenditures, and excludes receipts derived from borrowing from receipts.","cite":{"label":"Text","href":"https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-joint-resolution/139/text/rh#H5CA6424FEEB14C6FA80B4948DC0CB500"}},{"text":"Allows Congress, by a roll call vote of two-thirds of each House, to provide by law for specific expenditures in excess of the limit.","cite":{"label":"Text","href":"https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-joint-resolution/139/text/rh#H5CA6424FEEB14C6FA80B4948DC0CB500"}},{"text":"Allows Congress, by a roll call vote, to provide by law for specific expenditures in excess of the limit for any year in which a declaration of war is in effect.","cite":{"label":"Text","href":"https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-joint-resolution/139/text/rh#H5CA6424FEEB14C6FA80B4948DC0CB500"}},{"text":"Provides that a bill to levy a new tax or increase the rate of any tax does not become law unless approved by two-thirds of the whole number of each House by a roll call vote, and that the article takes effect with the fifth year beginning after ratification.","cite":{"label":"Text","href":"https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-joint-resolution/139/text/rh#H5CA6424FEEB14C6FA80B4948DC0CB500"}}],"unexpected":[],"version":{"type":"Reported in House","date":"2026-02-25","rule":"nearest","href":"https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-joint-resolution/139/text/rh"},"current":true,"model":"claude-sonnet-5-5","approved":"2026-10-03","approved_by":"checks"},"sources":{"congress_gov":"https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-joint-resolution/139","text":"https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-joint-resolution/139/text"},"card":{"image":"card/item/119-hjres-139.png","v":"7d9050704bb7","alt":"Votes on Record. H.J.Res. 139, 119th Congress: Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States requiring a balanced budget for the Federal Government. House: 211 Yea, 207 Nay. Outcome: Failed House, 18 Mar 2026."}}