Appropriations bill (United States)

Appropriations bill (United States)
Name	Appropriations bill
Legislature	United States Congress
Caption	The United States Capitol, where appropriations bills are passed.
Enacted by	House of Representatives and Senate
Signed by	President
Related legislation	Budget and Accounting Act of 1921, Congressional Budget and Impoundment Control Act of 1974

Appropriations bill (United States). In the United States, an appropriations bill is legislation that provides legal authority for federal agencies to incur obligations and make payments from the Treasury. These bills are a critical component of the annual federal budget process, translating authorized policies into actual spending. The Constitution grants the "power of the purse" to Congress, specifically stating in Article I, Section 9 that "No money shall be drawn from the Treasury, but in Consequence of Appropriations made by Law."

Overview

Appropriations bills are the primary mechanism through which Congress exercises its constitutional power over federal spending, distinct from authorization bills which establish or continue federal programs. These bills provide the actual funding for the operations of the government, including everything from military salaries at the Pentagon to scientific research grants from the National Institutes of Health. Failure to enact these bills can lead to a partial government shutdown, as agencies lack the legal authority to spend money. The process is governed by complex rules and traditions within the House and Senate Appropriations Committees.

Process and procedure

The appropriations process follows the passage of a budget resolution, which sets overall spending guidelines. The House Appropriations Committee typically originates the twelve regular appropriations bills, which are then debated and amended on the floor of the House of Representatives. Concurrently, the Senate Appropriations Committee drafts its own versions. Differences between the House and Senate bills are resolved in a conference committee, producing a final bill that must pass both chambers before being sent to the President for signature or veto. This process is often protracted, leading to the use of continuing resolutions to fund the government temporarily.

Types of appropriations bills

There are three primary types of appropriations legislation. Regular appropriations bills provide funding for the next fiscal year and are divided into twelve subcommittees, such as those for Defense or Labor. Supplemental appropriations bills provide additional funding for unforeseen needs, such as disaster relief following Hurricane Katrina or for military operations like the War in Afghanistan. Continuing resolutions are stopgap measures that extend funding at existing levels when regular bills are not passed by the start of the fiscal year on October 1, preventing a lapse in appropriations.

History and development

The modern appropriations process was largely shaped by the Budget and Accounting Act of 1921, which created the Bureau of the Budget and required the President to submit an annual budget. A major reform occurred with the Congressional Budget and Impoundment Control Act of 1974, which established the Congressional Budget Office and the modern budget resolution process to regain congressional control from the Executive Branch. Historically, appropriations were often combined into large, omnibus packages, a trend that has accelerated in recent decades amid increasing political polarization between Democrats and Republicans.

Role in the federal budget

Appropriations bills constitute the discretionary spending portion of the federal budget, which is set annually by Congress. This contrasts with mandatory spending, such as for Social Security or Medicare, which is governed by permanent laws. The appropriations process directly funds the activities of federal departments like the State Department and agencies like the NASA. The total level of discretionary spending is constrained by allocations set in the annual budget resolution and, at times, by statutory caps like those established by the Budget Control Act of 2011.

Controversies and issues

The appropriations process is frequently a source of significant political conflict, often leading to government shutdowns when consensus cannot be reached. The use of policy "riders"—unrelated provisions attached to must-pass spending bills—is a persistent controversy, as seen in debates over funding for Planned Parenthood or environmental regulations. The increasing reliance on massive, last-minute omnibus or continuing resolution packages reduces transparency and thorough legislative scrutiny. Furthermore, the process of earmarking, or directing funds to specific projects like the "Bridge to Nowhere" in Alaska, has been criticized for promoting pork-barrel spending, leading to reforms such as the moratorium instituted by the 112th Congress.

Category:Appropriations bills of the United States Congress Category:United States federal budget