.Proposing a balanced budget amendment to the Constitution requiring that each agency and department's funding is justified.

# Summary of HJ RES 11: Balanced Budget Amendment **What It Would Do** This bill proposes a constitutional amendment that would require the federal government to balance its budget each year—meaning the government cannot spend more money than it takes in—with limited exceptions. The President would need to submit a budget where spending doesn't exceed revenue, and Congress could only approve deficit spending (spending more than it takes in) if three-fifths of both the House and Senate vote to allow it. The amendment would also require a three-fifths congressional vote to raise taxes or increase the national debt limit. Departments and agencies would need to justify their funding requests in detail. **Who It Affects and Key Provisions** This amendment would affect all Americans by potentially constraining federal spending on programs like Social Security, Medicare, defense, infrastructure, and other government services.

It includes exceptions for war or military emergencies declared by Congress. The bill also excludes debt repayment from deficit calculations. Because constitutional amendments require approval from Congress and ratification by three-fourths of state legislatures, this is a significant undertaking. **Current Status** The bill is currently in committee and has not advanced further in the legislative process. Balanced budget amendments are recurring proposals in Congress with supporters arguing they would prevent unsustainable debt and critics contending they would force harmful cuts to vital programs during economic downturns.