Budget resolution
In the United States Congress, a budget resolution is a legislation in the form of a concurrent resolution setting forth the congressional budget. The budget resolution establishes various budget totals, allocations, entitlements, and may include reconciliation instructions to designated House or Senate committees.
The committees are responsible for drafting budget resolutions. Following the traditional calendar, by early April both the House and Senate finalize their drafts and submit it to their respective floors for consideration and adoption.
The budget resolution serves as a blueprint for the actual appropriation process, and provides Congress with some control over the appropriations process. A budget resolution binds Congress, but is not a law. It does allow for certain points of order to be made if the President does not follow the resolution. There may not be a resolution every year; if none is established, the previous year's resolution stays in force.[1]
[edit] History
Prior to 1974, there was no Congressional Budget Office nor budget resolution process. When President Richard Nixon began to refuse to spend funds that the Congress had allocated, Congress needed a more formal means by which to challenge him. The resulting Congressional Budget and Impoundment Control Act of 1974[2] created the Congressional Budget Office and directed more control of the budget to CBO and away from the President's Office of Management and the Budget. The Act passed easily as the administration was then embroiled in the Watergate scandal and unwilling to provoke Congress.[3]
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ Budget Resolution Explainer, Rudolph Penner, Urban Institute
- ^ Budget and Impoundment Control Act of 1974
- ^ Budget Resolution Explainer, Rudolph Penner, Urban Institute
