Joint Resolution in the United States

Joint Resolution

Legislative Definition of Joint Resolution

This Congressional concept is provided by the United States Congress website as a a basic reference document: A form of legislative measure used to propose changes in law, or to propose an amendment to the U.S. Constitution. Depending on the chamber of origin, they begin with a designation of either H.J.Res. or S.J.Res.

More about the legislative meaning of Joint Resolution

Concurrent resolutions and simple resolutions are other types of resolutions.

More about this term

Bill is another form of legislative measure used to propose law.

Joint Resolution in the Federal Budget Process

Meaning of Joint Resolution in the congressional and executive budget processes (GAO source): A form of legislation (designated with S.J. Res. or H.J. Res.) that is either:

(1) A congressional action typically used in dealing with matters such as a single appropriation for a specific purpose, increasing the statutory limit on the public debt, or continuing appropriations. There is no real difference between a bill and a joint resolution; both require a majority vote and become law in the same manner, that is, by bicameral enactment and signature of the President.

(2) A congressional action used to propose amendments to the Constitution. Adoption of a joint resolution to propose a constitutional amendment requires a two-thirds majority vote by both the Senate and the House and is not presented to the President for approval. A proposed amendment becomes effective only when ratified by three-fourths of the states.

(See also Continuing Appropriation/Continuing Resolution. For a distinction, see Concurrent Resolution on the Budget.)

Resources

See Also

• Federal Appropriations
• Entries about the United States Budget Process in the Encyclopedia (including Joint Resolution)
• Public Debt

Further Reading

• Legislatures and the budget process: the myth of fiscal control

  (J Wehner, 2010)

• Reconcilable Differences?: Congress, the Budget Process, and the Deficit (JB Gilmour, 1990)
• Fiscal institutions and fiscal performance

  (JM Poterba, J von Hagen, 2008)

See Also

• Resolution