Budget authority

Broad responsibility conferred by Congress that empower government agencies to spend federal funds. Congress can specify criteria for the spending of these funds. For example, it may stipulate that a given agency must spend within a specific year, number of years, or any time in the future.

The basic forms of budget authority are; appropriations, authority to borrow, contract authority, and authority to obligate and expend offsetting receipts and collections. The period of time during which Congress makes funds available may be specified as one-year, multiple years or no year. The available amount may be classified as either definite or indefinite; a specific amount or an unspecified amount can be made available. Authority may also be classified as current or permanent. Permanent authority requires no current action by Congress.

Budget Authority

Ability conferred by law upon government organizations to receive and spend the state's money. In the United States, Congress may confer budget authority on federal agencies according to various classifications. They may classify budget authority by the amount available (definite or indefinite), the timing of congressional action (current or permanent), or duration (one-year, multiyear, or no year).

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References in periodicals archive

* Providing budget authority for tax credits to buy health insurance pending the passage of legislation

Federal Budget Helps Drive Health Policy

Typically, new budget authority is provided in the form of permanent appropriations or annual appropriations.

Basic federal budgeting terminology

The budget calls for $44.7 billion in overall budget authority for the department in fiscal 2001, compared to $43.1 billion appropriated by Congress in fiscal 2000.

Budget Plan Offers Help for Schools

All Agencies Budget Authority, FY2010-FY2013, by Program

The Global Climate Change Initiative (GCCI): budget authority and request, FY2010-FY2013

Consensus exists, however, and the European Council asked the Czech EU Presidency to "accelerate contacts with the European Parliament," the second branch of the budget authority, to obtain an agreement before the end of the legislative period in June.

EUROPEAN COUNCIL/RECOVERY PLAN : EU LEADERS FINALLY AGREE ON 5 BN EURO ARRANGEMENTS

Categories: Budget and Spending, Balanced budgets, Budget administration, Budget authority, Budget controllability, Budget deficit, Defense budgets, Defense cost control, Defense procurement, Deficit financing, Deficit reduction, Economic analysis, Economic growth, Economic policies, Federal social security programs, Fiscal policies, Health care cost control, Health care costs, Health care programs, Health care reform, Intergovernmental fiscal relations, Medicaid, Medicare

Making Tough Budget Choices to Create a Better Future

IB recommends approximately $42.8 billion for total medicalcare budget authority, an increase of $3.7 billion over the FY 2008 operating budget level established by P.L.

FY 2009 budget: same old song?

Approximate level of defense budget authority in FY07.

Did you know ..

For so-called discretionary spending, it calls for $26.8 billion in new budget authority, $2.8 billion more than in fiscal year 2002.

Budget plans come up short on veterans health care

The measure recommends a total of $39 billion for fiscal year 2000 in new budget authority for the Departments of Commerce, Justice, and State, the judiciary, and related agencies.

President Promises To Veto Justice Appropriations

The House and Senate resolutions, which were to be reconciled and approved by both chambers in late April, cut both budget authority and outlay levels for natural resources and environmental programs.

Washington report

This is particularly true for defense, where increases in budget authority had already been scaled back before big additional cuts this fiscal year.

Should we worry about the deficit?