Obligation (CongressionalGlossary.com)

From the Congressional Glossary – Including Legislative and Budget Terms

Obligation

Non
Creative Commons License photo credit: smudie

A legally binding agreement that will result in outlays, immediately or in the future. A promise to pay. The obligation, the promise to pay, is the initial action in the Federal spending process. Appropriations laws establish whether funds are available to obligate.

What is needed to Obligate?

An obligation may be “matured” or “unmatured”; “matured” means a liability that is currently payable; “unmatured” means a liability that is not currently payable but for which a definite liability exists in the future.

Services and supplies that are purchased by contract are recorded as obligations at the time there is a binding agreement – usually when the contract is signed. As a general rule, the amount of the obligation is the maximum liability to the Federal Government. The maximum liability is normally limited by the terms of the contract (e.g., cancellation clauses).

A definite commitment that creates a legal liability of the government for the payment of goods and services ordered or received, or a legal duty on the part of the United States that could mature into a legal liability by virtue of actions on the part of the other party beyond the control of the United States. Payment may be made immediately or in the future. An agency incurs an obligation, for example, when it places an order, signs a contract, awards a grant, purchases a service, or takes other actions that require the government to make payments to the public or from one government account to another. The standards for the proper reporting of obligations are found in section 1501(a) of title 31 of the United States Code. 31 USC Sec. 1501(a).

An outlay is a payment to liquidate an obligation. Paying the promise.

 

See also

 


Discretionary and mandatory outlays of the US Federal Government

 

More

 
 


Expenditures Versus Expenses | Governmental Accounting | CPA exam FAR

 
 

Courses

 
 

Publications


The Federal Budget Process 2E

The Federal Budget Process 2E


Pocket Constitution

Pocket Constitution


Citizen's Handbook to Influencing Elected Officials

Citizen’s Handbook to Influencing Elected Officials: A Guide for Citizen Lobbyists and Grassroots Advocates


Congressional Procedure

Congressional Procedure

 
 

CongressionalGlossary.com, from TheCapitol.Net






For more than 40 years, TheCapitol.Net and its predecessor, Congressional Quarterly Executive Conferences, have been teaching professionals from government, military, business, and NGOs about the dynamics and operations of the legislative and executive branches and how to work with them.

Our custom on-site and online training, publications, and audio courses include congressional operations, legislative and budget process, communication and advocacy, media and public relations, testifying before Congress, research skills, legislative drafting, critical thinking and writing, and more.

TheCapitol.Net is on the GSA Schedule, MAS, for custom on-site and online training. GSA Contract GS02F0192X

TheCapitol.Net is now owned by the Sunwater Institute.

Teaching how Washington and Congress work ™

Select publications from TheCapitol.Net