Appropriations bill

Appropriations bill is a type of legislation that is used by governments, particularly in the United States, to authorize the expenditure of public funds. These bills are typically passed by legislatures and must be signed by the executive in order to become law.

Overview

An appropriations bill is a piece of legislation that provides the legal authority for government agencies to spend money. These bills are typically proposed by the executive branch and then considered by the legislature. The process of passing an appropriations bill can be complex, involving negotiations between different branches of government and often requiring compromises on various issues.

Types of Appropriations Bills

There are three main types of appropriations bills: regular, supplemental, and continuing.

• Regular Appropriations Bills are the most common type. They fund the normal operations of government agencies for a fiscal year.

• Supplemental Appropriations Bills provide additional funding to agencies in the middle of a fiscal year, often in response to emergencies or unforeseen circumstances.

• Continuing Resolutions are used when the legislature has not passed a regular appropriations bill by the start of the fiscal year. They typically continue the previous year's funding levels for a set period of time.

Process

The process for passing an appropriations bill begins with the submission of a budget request by the executive branch. This request is reviewed by the Congressional Budget Office, which provides an analysis of the proposed budget. The appropriations committees in the House of Representatives and the Senate then draft appropriations bills based on this request and analysis. These bills must be passed by both houses of Congress and signed by the President to become law.

Criticism and Controversy

Appropriations bills have been the subject of criticism and controversy. Critics argue that the process is often influenced by lobbying and pork-barreling, leading to wasteful spending. There have also been instances where appropriations bills have been used to pass controversial legislation by attaching it as a rider.

See Also

• Budget process in the United States
• Omnibus spending bill
• Government shutdown in the United States