Congressional Statute — This option would involve Congress regulating itself by adopting budget reforms via a simple statute which does not have to be signed by the President. While passage can be quick, this is only a short-term fix. Any simple statute adopted by Congress in one session can be discarded in the next. This is like the fox guarding the hen house.
Amendment Proposed by Congress — This option would require the states to strong-arm Congress into proposing a Balanced Budget Amendment (BBA). The states can “force” Congress to propose a BBA via the “threat” of a convention. This is achieved when the states reach 33 of 34 states required to call a convention.
Amendment Proposed by the States — This option would require the states to call a convention to propose a Balanced Budget Amendment for ratification. This requires applications or “convention calls” by two-thirds or 34 of the state legislatures. This should only be considered if Congress refuses to propose a BBA or if it proposes a weak amendment.