Last week, you learned what an appropriation is. This week: how they actually work in practice. Last week, we covered the three elements of every appropriation (time, purpose, amount), and how Congress organizes the 12 annual appropriations bills. But knowing what an appropriation IS doesn't tell you how
Today, the federal government hit a milestone - the longest lapse in appropriations in U.S. history. Here's what's actually happening in a shutdown—and what isn't. The federal government is experiencing a lapse in appropriations—commonly called a "government shutdown." But
Before tracking budget execution or making sense of a government shutdown, you need to understand what an appropriation actually is—and what it isn't. Federal budget tracking starts with appropriations. But what exactly IS an appropriation? Most people think it's simple: Congress passes a bill, money