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1 1 (April 10, 2018)

handle is hein.crs/govciwt0001 and id is 1 raw text is: Researh Sevice Balanced Budget Amendments April 10, 2018 A balanced budget amendment (BBA) proposes to amend the U.S. Constitution to require that outlays shall not exceed revenues. Constitutional amendments require a two-thirds vote of approval in both houses of Congress as well as ratification by three-fourths of the states. Common Components of BBAs Proposed BBAs have historically included additional provisions that may be as contentious as the requirement that outlays not exceed revenues. Such provisions are summarized below. Supermajority vote threshold for permitting outlays to exceed receipts. These provisions typically require a supermajority vote in each chamber on legislation providing for any excess of outlays over receipts. They have varied by the proportion of Members required to agree to such an excess, with some proposals requiring three-fifths and others requiring two-thirds of each chamber. Supermajority vote threshold for debt limit increase. These provisions typically state that the debt held by the public shall not be increased unless each chamber shall provide for such an increase by roll call vote. They vary by the proportion of Members required to agree to such an increase, with some proposals requiring three-fifths and others requiring two-thirds or three-fourths of each chamber. (It should be noted that debt held by the public, which is referenced in these provisions, is only a portion of the debt currently subject to limit. The debt currently subject to limit consists of debt held by the public as well as intergovernmental debt, such as that held by Social Security.) Vote threshold for revenue increase. These provisions typically state that any measure to increase revenue shall become law only if approved by each chamber by roll call vote. They vary by the proportion of Members required to agree to such an increase, with proposals requiring a majority of the whole membership or three-fifths or two-thirds of each chamber. Requirement that the President's budget submission be balanced. These provisions state that the President shall submit to Congress a proposed budget in which outlays do not exceed total receipts. Further, such proposals often include additional budgetary limits or requirements (e.g., spending limited to a specified percentage of gross domestic product) and require that the President shall submit to Congress a proposed budget consistent with such budgetary limits. Waiver for war, emergency, or low economic growth. These provisions typically allow that requirements stated in the amendment will not apply in certain circumstances. Sometimes the provisions require Congress to expressly vote to waive the requirements, and the provisions may include a vote Congressional Research Service https://crsreports.congress.gov IN10884 CRS }NStGHT Prepaed for Membei-s and Cornnittees o4 Co nqqress ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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