The Federal Budget Process: A description of the federal and congressional budget processes, including timelines

The Federal Budget Process

The Federal Budget Process: A description of the federal and congressional budget processes, including timelines

Budgeting for the federal government is an enormously complex process. It entails dozens of subprocesses, countless rules and procedures, the efforts of tens of thousands of staff persons in the executive and legislative branches, and the active participation of the President, congressional leaders, Members of Congress, and members of the executive branch. This analysis shows the various elements of the federal budget process including the President’s budget submission, framework, timetable, the budget resolution, reconciliation, the “Byrd Rule,” appropriations, and budget execution.

Table of Contents

    1. “Introduction to the Federal Budget Process,” by Robert Keith, CRS Report for Congress 98-721 GOV, November 20, 2008 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
    2. “Overview of the Executive Budget Process,” by Bill Heniff Jr., CRS Report for Congress RS20175, June 17, 2008 . . . . . . . 33
    3. “The Executive Budget Process Timetable,” by Bill Heniff Jr., CRS Report for Congress RS20152, June 17, 2008 . . . . . . . 35
    4. “The Congressional Budget Process: A Brief Overview,” by James V. Saturno, CRS Report for Congress RS20095, November 26, 2008 . . . . . . . 37
    5. “The Congressional Budget Process Timetable,” by Bill Heniff Jr., CRS Report for Congress 98-472 GOV, March 20, 2008 . . . . . . . 45
    6. “Budget Resolution Enforcement,” by Bill Heniff, Jr., CRS Report for Congress 98-815, August 12, 2008 . . . . . . . 49
    7. “The Budget Reconciliation Process: The Senate’s ‘Byrd Rule,'” by Robert Keith, CRS Report for Congress RL30862, March 20, 2008 . . . . . . . 55
    8. “The Congressional Appropriations Process: An Introduction,” by Sandy Streeter, CRS Report 97-684, December 2, 2008 . . . . . . 91
    9. “Reforming the Federal Budget Process,” Testimony of Douglas Holtz-Eakin, Director of OMB, before the Subcommittee on Legislative and Budget Process, Committee on Rules, U.S. House of Representatives, March 23, 2004 . . . . . . 119
    10. From the Congressional Deskbook: Chapter 9, “Legislating in Congress: Federal Budget Process,” by Bill Heniff Jr. and Robert Keith . . . . 133
    Resources from TheCapitol.Net . . . . . . 179
    11. Capitol Learning Audio Courses

    12. Live Training

    Other Resources . . . . . . 180
    13. Books
    14. Laws
    15. Web Sites

Softcover, 2009, 192 pages, $27.50
ISBN: 1587331519 ISBN 13: 978-1-58733-151-0
Complete Table of Contents, sample pages, and online ordering here.