Which bill is prepared annually to provide budget authority to operate the entire Government, and is managed by the House and Senate Appropriations Committees?

Which bill is prepared annually to provide budget authority to operate the entire Government, and is managed by the House and Senate Appropriations Committees?

• A. Continuing Resolution
• B. Authorization Act
• C. Appropriations Bill
• D. Budget Resolution

Answer: (C)

The bill that provides budget authority to operate the entire Government is an Appropriations Bill. This annual measure actually funds government programs and activities by authorizing the release of federal funds, and it is drafted and managed by the Appropriations Committees in both the House and the Senate. A Continuing Resolution, by contrast, keeps funding at current levels for a period when full appropriations haven’t been enacted; it doesn’t create new budget authority. An Authorization Act sets policy and authorizes future funding but does not itself provide the budget authority—the actual funding comes through appropriations. A Budget Resolution is a non-binding plan that sets spending targets but does not fund programs.

The bill that provides budget authority to operate the entire Government is an Appropriations Bill. This annual measure actually funds government programs and activities by authorizing the release of federal funds, and it is drafted and managed by the Appropriations Committees in both the House and the Senate.

A Continuing Resolution, by contrast, keeps funding at current levels for a period when full appropriations haven’t been enacted; it doesn’t create new budget authority. An Authorization Act sets policy and authorizes future funding but does not itself provide the budget authority—the actual funding comes through appropriations. A Budget Resolution is a non-binding plan that sets spending targets but does not fund programs.