That the following article is proposed as an amendment to the Constitution of the United States, which shall be valid to all intents and purposes as part of the Constitution when ratified by the legislatures of three-fourths of the several States:

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1.Total expenditures for a year shall not exceed the average annual revenue collected in the three prior years, adjusted in proportion to changes in population and inflation. Total expenditures shall include all expenditures of the United States except those for payment of debt, and revenue shall include all revenue of the United States except that derived from borrowing.

2.Congress may by a roll call vote of two-thirds of each House declare an emergency and provide by law for specific expenditures in excess of the limit in section 1. The declaration shall specify reasons for the emergency designation and may authorize expenditures in excess of the limit in section 1 for up to one year.

3.Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.

4.This article shall take effect in the first year beginning at least 90 days following ratification, except that expenditures may exceed the limit in section 1 by the following portion of the prior year’s expenditures exceeding that limit (excepting emergency expenditures provided for by section 2): nine-tenths in the first year, eight-ninths in the second year, seven-eighths in the third year, six-sevenths in the fourth year, five-sixths in the fifth year, four-fifths in the sixth year, three-fourths in the seventh year, two-thirds in the eighth year, and one-half in the ninth year.