Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States requiring a balanced budget for the Federal Government.
The proposed constitutional amendment requires the federal government to maintain a balanced budget, limiting expenditures to the average annual receipts of the previous three years, adjusted for population and inflation. Exceptions are allowed with a two-thirds congressional vote or during a declared war. The amendment also requires a two-thirds vote for new taxes or tax increases and mandates congressional enforcement through legislation.
The letter, score, and explanation above are free. The point-by-point breakdown of all eight scored criteria — with each criterion's value and how it moved the grade — is a Quiet Ledger research capability.
Access options →| Date | Time | Action |
|---|---|---|
| 2026-01-09 | — | Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary. |
| 2026-01-09 | — | Introduced in House |
| 2026-01-09 | — | Introduced in House |
| 2026-02-03 | — | Ordered to be Reported by the Yeas and Nays: 16 - 10. |
| 2026-02-03 | — | Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held |
| 2026-02-25 | — | Placed on the House Calendar, Calendar No. 63. |
| 2026-02-25 | — | Reported by the Committee on Judiciary. H. Rept. 119-520. |
| 2026-02-25 | — | Reported by the Committee on Judiciary. H. Rept. 119-520. |
| 2026-03-18 | 12:20:03 | Mr. Biggs (AZ) moved to suspend the rules and pass the resolution. |
| 2026-03-18 | 12:20:16 | Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H2560-2568; text: CR H2560-2561) |
| 2026-03-18 | 12:20:20 | DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 1115, the House proceeded with one hour of debate on H.J. Res. 139 |
| 2026-03-18 | 13:19:56 | At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 8, rule XX, the Chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed. |
| 2026-03-18 | 17:28:32 | Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H2583-2584) |
| 2026-03-18 | 17:35:12 | On motion to suspend the rules and pass the resolution Failed by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 211 - 207 (Roll no. 95). |
| 2026-03-18 | 17:35:12 | Failed of passage/not agreed to in House On motion to suspend the rules and pass the resolution Failed by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 211 - 207 (Roll no. 95). |
- Methodology
- full_text_v3
- Calculated
- 2026-09-18 16:54:36.323+00
- Source version
- 2026-03-18
- Assessments
- —
The Quiet Ledger grades legislation on its content. A bill grade is analysis of the bill — not a grade of its sponsor or of any member who voted on it.

