Constitution Index · H.Res. 499 · 2025-06-11
Providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 4) to rescind certain budget authority proposed to be rescinded in special messages transmitted to the Congress by the President on June 3, 2025, in accordance with section 1012(a) of the Congressional Budget and Impoundment Control Act of 1974, and for other purposes.
Latest official status (2025-06-11): Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
Constitutional grade
A
Constitutional
This resolution is a procedural rule governing House consideration of a rescissions bill. It operates entirely within Congress's constitutional authority over its own proceedings and the federal budget. It does not infringe on any individual rights, does not consolidate power improperly, and adheres to due process requirements. The waiver of points of order and the suspension of certain Impoundment Control Act provisions are internal procedural choices that do not violate the Constitution.
Article I, Section 9, Clause 7 Article I, Section 8, Clause 1 Article I, Section 5, Clause 2 Amendment V
SI-generated grade · passed automated checks (real Constitution citation, language rules) · not individually reviewed by a person · methodology · Report an error: hello@valuesforamerica.com
The five checks
Enumerated powers · passes
The resolution is a rule for considering a bill that would rescind budget authority. Congress's power over the purse is rooted in Article I, Section 9, Clause 7 (No Money shall be drawn from the Treasury, but in Consequence of Appropriations made by Law) and Article I, Section 8, Clause 1 (Power to lay and collect Taxes...to pay the Debts and provide for the common Defence and general Welfare). Additionally, Article I, Section 5, Clause 2 grants each House the authority to determine the Rules of its Proceedings. This resolution is a direct exercise of that rulemaking power and the budget power, so it is within enumerated authority.
Bill of Rights · passes
The resolution does not touch upon any of the rights protected by the first ten amendments. It is a procedural measure that does not regulate speech, religion, assembly, press, petition, arms, quartering, searches, seizures, self-incrimination, due process, takings, trial rights, jury rights, cruel and unusual punishment, or unenumerated rights. It is purely a matter of legislative process.
Individual liberty · passes
The resolution does not restrict any individual's person, property, speech, labor, or belief. It only sets the terms for debate and amendment of a spending bill. There is no burden on individual liberty, and no compelling constitutional justification is needed because no individual freedom is implicated.
Decentralization · passes
This is a federal legislative procedure, so the decentralization test is applied to the level of government action. The resolution does not consolidate decision-making upward; it is already at the federal level, which is the appropriate level for federal budget rescissions. The questions are answered as follows: (1) An individual or family cannot handle federal budget rescissions, so the individual question is not applicable but is answered 'no' because it is not something an individual could do. (2) A local community cannot handle federal budget rescissions, so 'no'. (3) A state cannot handle federal budget rescissions, so 'no'. (4) The resolution does not consolidate decision-making at a higher level than necessary; it is a federal matter. Thus, the resolution passes the test.
Due process and takings · passes
The resolution does not bypass due process or take property. It is a procedural rule for considering a bill. The waiver of points of order and the suspension of certain Impoundment Control Act provisions are internal legislative procedures that do not affect the rights of individuals. The Fifth Amendment's Due Process Clause and Takings Clause are not implicated because the resolution does not deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, nor does it take private property for public use without just compensation.
Provenance
- Official text: HRES 499 (Reported in House) · fetched 2026-10-08 · official page ↗
Version history · never overwritten
| Grade | Graded | Rubric | Source hash | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A · #512 | 2026-10-10 | vfa-constitutional-grade/1.0 | c23fa91e50b5 | current |
Cite this
Values for America. “Constitutional grade: H.Res. 499, Providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 4) to rescind certain budget authority proposed to be rescinded in special messages transmitted to the Congress by the President on June 3, 2025, in accordance with section 1012(a) of the Congressional Budget and Impoundment Control Act of 1974, and for other purposes..” VFA Constitution Index, grade 512 (rubric vfa-constitutional-grade/1.0), graded October 10, 2026. https://www.valuesforamerica.com/constitution-index/grades/512. Accessed 2026-10-19.
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