Congressional Appropriations Process Elements and Considerations

Congress annually considers several appropriations measures, which provide funding for numerous activities, for example, national defence, education, and homeland security, as well as general government operations. Congress has developed certain rules and practices for the consideration of appropriations measures, referred to as the congressional appropriations process. This book examines the procedural and legal issues associated with the authorisation of appropriations; the limitations in appropriations measures; omnibus appropriations; history of the appropriations subcommittee structure; automatic continuing resolutions; locating an agency or program within appropriations bills; and the causes, processes and effects of the shutdown of the federal government.