Proposing a balanced budget amendment to the Constitution of the United States.

# Balanced Budget Amendment Summary **What the Bill Would Do** This proposal would add a new amendment to the U.S. Constitution requiring the federal government to balance its budget each year—meaning the government cannot spend more money than it receives in revenue. The amendment would also require a two-thirds majority vote in both the House and Senate to approve any tax increase or raise the federal debt limit (the legal cap on how much the government can borrow). **Who It Affects and Key Provisions** This would impact virtually all Americans, as it would constrain how Congress budgets for federal programs and services. The amendment would make it much harder to pass tax increases, since a simple majority would no longer be sufficient.

It would also prevent the government from increasing borrowing without overwhelming congressional support. However, the amendment would need to be approved by two-thirds of both chambers of Congress and then ratified by three-fourths of state legislatures before it could take effect—a high bar that few constitutional amendments achieve. **Current Status** The bill is currently in committee, meaning it has not yet been debated or voted on by the full House. Balanced budget amendments have been proposed many times in recent decades but have never gained enough support to pass Congress and reach the states for ratification.