A JOINT RESOLUTION requesting congress to submit an amendment to the states to require a balanced federal budget.
Whereas, the General Assembly believes that the increasingly large federal debt seriously threatens the future well‑being of the citizens of the United States, including our children and future generations; and
Whereas, furthermore, this debt seriously threatens our national security, safety, and even our sovereignty as a nation; and
Whereas, history provides examples of nations that fell due to an inability to apply sound fiscal responsibility and spend within their means under a balanced budget; and
Whereas, we agree with our country's Founders who stated that it is immoral to pass on heavy debt incurred by one generation of citizens to the succeeding generations; and
Whereas, the reported "National Debt" of the United States of over $16 trillion now exceeds the nation's Gross Domestic Product; and
Whereas, the reported "Total U.S. Debt" of over $58 trillion exceeds $700,000 per family in the United States; and
Whereas, the reported "Total Unfunded Liabilities" of the United States of over $122 trillion is more than $1 million per taxpayer and exceeds the Total National Assets of the United States by more than 30%; and 
Whereas, attempts to limit federal spending have not been successful; and
Whereas, current budget deficits continue to exceed $1 trillion annually and continue to drive up the National Debt at an alarming rate; Now, therefore,
Be it resolved by the House of Representatives, the Senate concurring:
SECTION 1.  The Congress of the United States is requested to submit an amendment to the states to require a balanced federal budget providing:
(1)	Total outlays for any fiscal year shall not exceed total receipts for that fiscal year unless three‑quarters of each House shall provide, by a roll call vote, for a specific excess of outlays.
(2)	For suspension of the limitations imposed under this article for any fiscal year in which a declaration of war is in effect. The provisions of this article may be waived for any fiscal year in which the United States is engaged in military conflict that causes an imminent and serious military threat to national security and is so declared by a joint resolution, adopted by a majority of the whole number of each House, which becomes law.
(3)	The Congress shall enforce and implement this article by appropriate legislation, which may rely on estimates of outlays and receipts.
(4)	Total receipts shall include all receipts of the United States except those derived from borrowing. Total outlays shall include all outlays of the United States except those for repayment of debt principal.
SECTION 2.  The Secretary of State shall transmit copies of this resolution to the Speaker and the Clerk of the United States House of Representatives, the President and the Secretary of the United States Senate, the members of the North Carolina Congressional Delegation, and to the presiding officers of the legislative bodies of the other 49 states.
SECTION 3.  This resolution is effective upon ratification.