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The House failed to pass a proposed constitutional amendment that would require the federal government to balance its budget annually. The measure fell short of the two-thirds majority required for this fast-track procedure.
This vote was on H.J.Res. 139, a proposal to amend the U.S. Constitution. If ratified by the states, the amendment would require federal spending in any given year to stay within a limit based on the average revenue collected over the previous three years. It would also require a two-thirds supermajority vote in both the House and Senate to increase taxes or to allow spending that exceeds these limits. The House voted under a process called 'suspension of the rules.' This is a procedure typically used to quickly pass bills that have broad bipartisan support because it skips several intermediate steps. However, to pass this way, a bill must receive a two-thirds supermajority (66.7%) of those present and voting rather than a simple majority. The measure failed to pass, receiving 211 'yes' votes when 279 were required. The vote was split almost entirely along party lines, with Republicans supporting it and Democrats opposing it. While this specific attempt failed, House leadership could potentially bring the bill back for another vote in the future under a different set of rules that only requires a simple majority.
The bill remains in the House. Leadership could choose to bring it back for a vote under a standard 'rule,' which would only require a simple majority for passage.
OPEN BILL →Why it matters. A balanced budget amendment would fundamentally change how the U.S. government handles its finances, making it much harder to run deficits or increase taxes.
Who’s affected. Federal Agencies: Would face strict spending caps that could lead to significant budget cuts across various departments. · Future Generations: Could see a reduced national debt burden but potentially fewer government services. · Taxpayers: Tax increases would be harder for Congress to pass, requiring a two-thirds supermajority.
Democrats. Democrats almost entirely opposed the measure, with only one member voting in favor.
Republicans. Republicans overwhelmingly supported the measure, but lacked the numbers to reach a two-thirds supermajority alone.
On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass
Mar 18, 2026
The House failed to pass a proposed constitutional amendment that would require the federal government to balance its budget annually.
The measure fell short of the two-thirds majority required for this fast-track procedure.
This vote used a fast-track process called 'suspension of the rules.' This allows for quick passage by skipping debate and amendments but requires a two-thirds supermajority (66.7%) to succeed rather than a simple majority.
The bill remains in the House. Leadership could choose to bring it back for a vote under a standard 'rule,' which would only require a simple majority for passage.
A balanced budget amendment would fundamentally change how the U.S. government handles its finances, making it much harder to run deficits or increase taxes.
The vote was strictly along party lines, which is unusual for a procedure meant for non-controversial items.
Democrats almost entirely opposed the measure, with only one member voting in favor.
Republicans overwhelmingly supported the measure, but lacked the numbers to reach a two-thirds supermajority alone.
The lone independent member voted in favor of the resolution.