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 The United States Congress consists of two separate legislative bodies: the House of Representatives and the Senate. Jointly these two separate legislative bodies are referred to as “Congress”. Congress meets in the United States Capitol building. Congress, n. A body of men who meet to … Read more
From the Congressional Glossary – Including Legislative and Budget Terms Fund Accounting photo credit: marc falardeau Commonly used to refer to the administrative system of funds control that each agency establishes to ensure compliance with federal fiscal laws. The statutory basis for fund accounting is found primarily in the requirement of the Antideficiency Act that … 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 Supplemental Appropriation / Supplemental Appropriations Act Budget authority provided in an appropriations act in addition to regular or continuing appropriations already provided. Supplemental appropriations generally are made to cover emergencies, such as disaster relief, or other needs deemed too urgent to be postponed until the … 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