The “Deeming Resolution”: A Budget Enforcement Tool
"Summary
“Deeming resolution” is a term that refers to legislation deemed to serve as an annual budget
resolution for purposes of establishing enforceable budget levels for a budget cycle. A deeming
resolution is used when the House and Senate are late in reaching final agreement on a budget
resolution or fail to reach agreement altogether.

The Congressional Budget Act of 1974 requires the annual adoption of a budget resolution
establishing aggregate levels of revenues, spending, the debt limit, and the surplus or deficit, as well as allocations of spending. Enforcement of the budget resolution relies primarily upon points of order and reconciliation procedures. With regard to the enforcement of budget aggregates and committee spending allocations, the major points of order are found in Sections 311 and 302 of
the act, respectively.

The term “deeming resolution” is not officially defined, nor is there any specific statute or rule
authorizing such legislation. Instead, the use of a deeming resolution simply represents the House
and Senate employing regular legislative procedures to deal with the issue on an ad hoc basis..."