Article 81

The State shall balance revenue and expenditure in its budget, taking account of the adverse and the favourable phases of the economic cycle. No recourse shall be made to borrowing except for the purpose of taking account of the effects of the economic cycle or in exceptional circumstances and subject to authorisation from the Houses by an absolute majority of their respective members. Any law involving new or increased expenditure shall provide for the resources to cover such expenditure. Each year the Houses shall pass a law to approve the budget and the accounts submitted by the Government. Provisional implementation of the budget shall not be allowed except by law and only for periods not exceeding four months in total. The content of the budget law, the fundamental rules and the criteria designed to ensure a balance between revenue and expenditure as well as the sustainability of general government debt shall be established by a law approved by an absolute majority of the members of each House in compliance with the principles established by a constitutional law.