This proposal would change the Constitution to make it much harder for the federal government to increase the national debt. It says the government could only raise the debt for a specific purpose, and only if three-fourths of both the House and the Senate vote for it .

In simple terms, debt limit increases would be rare and tightly controlled. Big spending decisions that require borrowing would need broad support in Congress and a clear, stated reason .

• Key points:
  • What changes: Federal debt could not be increased unless it’s for a specific purpose and gets a three‑fourths vote in each chamber of Congress .
  • Who is affected: The federal government’s budgeting and borrowing; indirectly, programs and services that depend on new borrowing.
  • When: This is a proposed constitutional amendment; it would take effect only if adopted as an amendment .