Federal Budget Process

Paper Summary:

This paper examines the functioning of the federal budget process and explores the barriers involved. The paper explains that federal budgeting can also be split up into its basic standards of activity and measurement. The expenditure process involves three different stages of budget authorization, obligation, and outlays. The paper discusses the various parties involved in decision-making regarding the federal budget from Congress to the president. The laws pertinent to the federal budget process are presented in the paper. The paper contends that the federal budgetary procedure is required to endorse specific and apparent information on budgetary alternatives, to provide the lawmakers with a structure for arriving at agreeable conclusions on expenditure and receipt strategies, and to facilitate those policies to be implemented.

From the Paper:

"As is with any complicated strategy, the federal budgeting can also be split up into its basic standards of activity and measurement. The expenditure process involves three different stages of budget authorization, obligation and outlays. The Budget authority is bestowed by the Congress and President within the legal framework. It generates the legal base for federal units to make the financial responsibilities enforceable in terms of the obligations. The activities of the federal agencies in form of executing contracts, appointment of personnel and executing orders for goods and services give rise to generation of such obligations. The outlays follow when the obligations are settled down. The outlays are normally in shape of the checks, electronic fund transfers and other payments effected to by the Treasury Branch. The budget authorities mostly are provided to the agencies every year being excerpted from the legislations made during the previous Congresses. The funds are provided without the legislation by the Congress. (Keith, 1996)"

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