A simple idea for accountability in federal governance: Congress must pass balanced budgets, except during true national emergencies. If not, Members become ineligible for reelection. This nonpartisan draft is offered for public consideration and discussion.
SECTION 1. Annual Fiscal Balance. Beginning with the fiscal year commencing after ratification of this Article, total expenditures of the United States Government shall not exceed total revenues for that fiscal year, except as otherwise authorized herein. SECTION 2. Emergency Authorization. Congress may authorize expenditures exceeding revenues only by a roll-call vote of three-fifths of the whole number of each House, and solely for the duration of a formally declared national emergency, military conflict, or recession as defined by law. Any such authorization shall specify the maximum dollar amount and duration of permitted deficit spending. SECTION 3. Congressional Eligibility. No person shall be eligible for reelection to the House of Representatives or the Senate if, during any fiscal year in which that person served for at least six months, the federal government incurred a deficit not authorized pursuant to Section 2. Eligibility shall be restored after one full fiscal year in which the federal budget is in balance or deficit spending has been lawfully authorized under Section 2. SECTION 4. Certification. Within ninety days after the close of each fiscal year, an independent, nonpartisan Fiscal Accountability Office established by Congress shall certify publicly whether the federal budget was in balance and identify any Member of Congress rendered ineligible under Section 3. Such certification shall be final and binding for purposes of this Article. SECTION 5. Enforcement. Congress shall have power to enforce this Article by appropriate legislation. Federal courts shall have jurisdiction to adjudicate claims arising under this Article, provided that any challenge to eligibility determinations must be filed within thirty days after issuance of the certification described in Section 4. SECTION 6. Effective Date. This Article shall take effect on the first day of the fiscal year beginning one year after ratification.