Appropriations

Definition

Appropriations refer to the funds that are allocated by the legislative branch, specifically the U.S. Congress, to various government agencies and programs. This process is a crucial component of controlling the bureaucracy, as it allows Congress to exert its power over the executive branch by determining how federal funds are to be spent.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. The power of appropriations is one of the key tools Congress uses to oversee and control the executive branch, including the federal bureaucracy.
2. Congress can use the appropriations process to influence the priorities and activities of government agencies by increasing or decreasing funding for specific programs.
3. Appropriations bills must originate in the House of Representatives, but they require passage by both chambers of Congress and the President's signature to become law.
4. The appropriations process is an annual cycle, with Congress typically passing a series of appropriations bills to fund the government for the upcoming fiscal year.
5. Failure to pass appropriations bills on time can lead to government shutdowns, as agencies are forced to curtail operations due to lack of funding.

Review Questions

• Explain how the appropriations process allows Congress to control the bureaucracy.
  • The appropriations process gives Congress the power to control the bureaucracy by determining the funding levels for government agencies and programs. Congress can use this power to influence the priorities and activities of the bureaucracy by increasing or decreasing funding for specific initiatives. This allows Congress to shape the direction and scope of the federal bureaucracy, as agencies must operate within the budgetary constraints set by the appropriations bills.
• Describe the role of continuing resolutions in the appropriations process.
  • Continuing resolutions are temporary funding measures that Congress passes when it has not completed the annual appropriations process by the start of the fiscal year. These resolutions allow the government to continue operating by providing stopgap funding, typically at the previous year's levels, until a full appropriations bill can be enacted. Continuing resolutions are an important tool for preventing government shutdowns, but they can also create uncertainty and challenges for agencies as they plan their budgets and operations.
• Analyze the potential impact of earmarks on the appropriations process and the control of the bureaucracy.
  • Earmarks, which are provisions in appropriations bills that direct funds to specific projects or purposes, can be used by members of Congress to influence the activities of government agencies and the bureaucracy. While earmarks can help legislators secure funding for their constituents' priorities, they can also undermine the broader oversight and control that Congress exercises through the appropriations process. Earmarks can lead to the diversion of funds from other important priorities, and they can reduce the flexibility of agencies to allocate resources based on their own assessments of needs and priorities. As a result, the use of earmarks has been a subject of ongoing debate and reform efforts in Congress.

Related terms

Discretionary Spending: Discretionary spending is the portion of the federal budget that is determined through the annual appropriations process, as opposed to mandatory spending which is set by existing laws.

Continuing Resolution: A continuing resolution is a temporary funding measure that Congress passes to keep the government operating when it has not completed the annual appropriations process by the start of the fiscal year.

Earmarks: Earmarks are provisions in appropriations bills that direct funds to be spent on specific projects or for specific purposes, often at the request of individual members of Congress.