Guide to Government · Federal Budget
Budget Process
Understand budget resolutions, appropriations, continuing resolutions, shutdowns, and the public records that explain them.
The Practical Path
Request
The President sends Congress a budget request describing administration priorities and agency needs.
Framework
Congress may adopt a budget resolution setting broad fiscal targets — though it doesn’t itself fund agencies.
Authorize
Authorizing laws create or continue programs and may set policy rules for how they operate.
Appropriate
Appropriations bills provide the legal authority for agencies to actually spend money during the fiscal year.
Bridge
Continuing resolutions temporarily keep programs running when regular funding bills aren’t finished in time.
Account
Spending reports, inspectors general, GAO work, and USAspending data show what happened after funding was approved.
Why Deadlines Matter
The federal fiscal year begins October 1. If regular appropriations aren’t enacted and no continuing resolution is in place, affected agencies may have to shut down nonessential operations. Shutdowns don’t mean every government function stops, but they can delay services, payments, permits, inspections, research, and public access to some offices.
Continuing resolution: temporary funding
A short-term law that keeps agencies operating at temporary funding levels while Congress continues work.
Shutdown: funding lapse
A lapse occurs when legal spending authority expires for agencies or programs covered by unfinished appropriations.
Debt ceiling: borrowing authority
Separate from annual appropriations. It limits borrowing needed to pay obligations already authorized by law.
