Permanent Appropriations (CongressionalGlossary.com)
From the Congressional Glossary – Including Legislative and Budget Terms
Permanent Appropriations
Permanent Appropriations: Budget authority that becomes available as the result of previously enacted legislation (substantive legislation or prior appropriations act) and does not require current action by Congress. Budget authority is considered to be “current” if provided in the current session of Congress and “permanent” if provided in prior sessions.
Permanent Appropriations, such as those to pay interest on the national debt or to pay the salaries of members of Congress, remain available without additional action by Congress.
A revolving fund, which is a fund established by Congress to finance a cycle of businesslike operations through amounts received by the fund, is a form of permanent appropriation.
For permanent appropriations, OMB and agencies identify PPAs (Program, Project, or Activity) by the program and financing schedules that the president provides in the “Detailed Budget Estimates” in the budget submission for the relevant fiscal year.
Also see Budget Deficit / Budget Surplus; Date Shifting / Fiscal Transparency / Fiscal Illusion; Revolving Fund; Terms and Sessions of Congress; § 7.80 Authorizations and Appropriations Processes, in Congressional Deskbook.
More
- “‘Real’ Federal Deficit Four Times Official Number,” by Jason Sorens, Pileus, June 5, 2012
- Detailed Budget Estimates by Agency – OMB
- 31 U.S.C. § 1305 – Miscellaneous Permanent Appropriations
- “Overview of the Authorization-Appropriation Process,” CRS Report RS20371
- “Salaries of Members of Congress: Congressional Votes, 1990-2010,” CRS Report 97-615
- “Budget Process and Enforcement,” Parliamentary Boot Camp (4-page PDF
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Courses
- Congressional Operations Briefing – Capitol Hill Workshop
- Congressional Dynamics and the Legislative Process
- Drafting Federal Legislation and Amendments
- Understanding Congressional Budgeting and Appropriations
- Advanced Legislative Procedure
Publications
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