Orrin Hatch: “The term ``by law,'' used in the Senate Joint Resolution 1, sections 1 and 2 is used there in order to make clear that…”

“The term ``by law,'' used in the Senate Joint Resolution 1, sections 1 and 2 is used there in order to make clear that Congress cannot imbalance the budget or raise the debt limit by an internal rule. Why? The President must sign a bill for it to become a ``law.'' The President is not involved in the adoption of rules in the Senate or House. The term ``by appropriate legislation'' is used in Senate Joint Resolution 1, section 6, because that is the standard term used in all other enforcement clauses in the Constitution since the Civil War. So we have followed that which has been used. And I believe it will be interpreted similarly to the word ``law.'' But be that as it may, it has not been a problem since the Civil War, and I don't believe it will be a problem now. Specifically, ``appropriate legislation'' means that it satisfies article 1, passed by both Houses and is signed by the President. But the language actually mirrors all enforcement clauses in the Constitution since the Civil War. So I don't quite see the problem that the distinguished Senator from West Virginia does, and I don't think anybody else will.”