Constitutional amendment would force federal budget cuts or tax hikes
S.J.Res. 97 — A joint resolution proposing a balanced budget amendment to the Constitution of the United States. · Filed by Jon Husted (R-OH) · 2 cosponsors · Introduced Nov 20, 2025 · Referred to committee
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What it does
This joint resolution proposes a constitutional amendment requiring the federal government to balance its budget (excluding debt payments) within 10 years of ratification. Congress could exceed this limit only during emergencies approved by a two-thirds supermajority in both chambers, with any emergency debt to be repaid as soon as practicable. The amendment would need ratification by 38 states within seven years to take effect.
Why we flagged it
This is a structural constitutional proposal that would permanently limit Congress's fiscal authority. It is not a tax, appropriation, or regulatory bill—it is a meta-legislative constraint on the power to deficit-spend, framed as a constitutional amendment rather than ordinary legislation.
What the text implies
- A binding balanced-budget requirement would eliminate the federal government's ability to use deficit spending as a countercyclical tool during recessions, potentially deepening economic downturns and increasing unemployment.
- The amendment would create pressure to cut mandatory spending (Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid) or raise taxes significantly, as discretionary spending alone cannot close the gap in most fiscal scenarios.
The full analysis lists 5 implications of this text.
Who stands to gain
bond markets and creditors (lower long-term federal debt reduces inflation risk); fiscal conservatives and anti-tax advocacy groups