From the Congressional Glossary – Including Legislative and Budget Terms Budget Enforcement Act of 1990 P.O. Arnäs The Budget Enforcement Act of 1990, Pub. L. No. 101-508, title XIII, 104 Stat. 1388, 1388-573 (Nov. 5, 1990), was adopted to replace the Gramm-Rudman-Hollings Act of 1987, as a response to the budget crisis that persisted through … Read more
From the Congressional Glossary – Including Legislative and Budget Terms Bills / Measure / Passed A bill is the most commonly used form for legislation. A bill is prefixed with an H.R. in the House and with an S. in the Senate. A number assigned at the time of introduction signifies the order in which … Read more
From the Congressional Glossary – Including Legislative and Budget Terms Joint Resolution A joint resolution, designated H.J. Res. or S.J. Res. Requires the approval of both houses and the signature of the president, just as a bill does, and has the force of law if approved. There is no practical difference between a bill and … Read more
From the Congressional Glossary – Including Legislative and Budget Terms Adjourn for More than Three Days Three Princesses found at MegaCon 2010 in Orlando, Florida. By Sam Howzit Under the Constitution (Article. I. Section. 5.), neither chamber may adjourn for more than three days without the approval of the other. Such approval is obtained in … Read more
From the Congressional Glossary – Including Legislative and Budget Terms Petition Box photo credit: feeliz A “petition box” is mentioned in older House documents. The “petiton box” was not a physical box in the House, but a method of handling private bills. [It is not necessary that leave should be asked of the House to … Read more
From the Congressional Glossary – Including Legislative and Budget Terms Antideficiency Act / Antideficiency Act Violation photo credit: .through my eyes. The Antideficiency Act is a federal law (Pub.L. 97-258, 96 Stat. 923, 1982, 31 U.S.C. §§ 1341-1342, 1511-1519) that: Prohibits the making of expenditures or the incurring of obligations in advance of an appropriation … Read more
From the Congressional Glossary – Including Legislative and Budget Terms Pay-as-You-Go (PAYGO) photo credit: lobo235 A budgetary enforcement mechanism, a process by which direct spending increases or revenue decreases must be offset so that the deficit is not increased or the surplus reduced. A statutory PAYGO requirement was in effect from 1991 through 2002; the … Read more
From the Congressional Glossary – Including Legislative and Budget Terms Outlay photo credit: smudie Outlays are payments made (generally through the issuance of checks or disbursement of cash) to liquidate obligations. The issuance of checks, disbursement of cash, or electronic transfer of funds made to liquidate a federal obligation. Outlays also occur when interest on … Read more
From the Congressional Glossary – Including Legislative and Budget Terms Deficiency Apportionment photo credit: graibeard As provided for in the Antideficiency Act (31 U.S.C. § 1515) an apportionment by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) indicating the need for supplemental budget authority to permit payment of pay increases to civilian and military employees and … Read more
From the Congressional Glossary – Including Legislative and Budget Terms Deficiency Appropriation photo credit: mikecogh An appropriation made to pay obligations for which sufficient funds are not available. The need often results from violations of the Antideficiency Act. Though technically distinct from a supplemental appropriation, Congress has stopped passing separate deficiency appropriations and the distinction … Read more