Research Guides: Public Policy: Federal Budget Process

Overview

Who’s involved in creating the federal budget?

Federal Fiscal Year Runs Oct 1 to Oct 1

President – submits a budget “request”; tool to set national policy
Office of Management and Budget (executive agency) Formulates, prepares, and oversees the president’s budget
Congress
- Senate Budget Committee
- House Budget Committee
- Senate Appropriations Committee
- House Appropriations Committee
Congressional Budget Office

The budget sets “broad areas of spending; appropriations define the allocation of money for very specific programs and items”. Congress implements budget resolution policies through action on individual revenue and debt-limit measures, annual appropriations acts, and direct spending legislation.

References:

Keith, Robert. (2008). CRS Report for Congress: Introduction to the Federal Budget Process. Congressional Research Service, Washington, D.C. Available online: http://opencrs.com/document/98-721/2008-03-07

Sears, J. L., & Moody, M. K. (2001). Using government information sources: Electronic and print. Phoenix, Ariz: Oryx Press.

Guides to the Federal Budget Process

Who's Involved with the Federal Budget Process?

President's Budget, 2009
The President submits a budget “request”; which is a tool to set national policy and the Office of Management and Budget (executive agency) formulates, prepares, and oversees the president’s budget. The budget sets “broad areas of spending; appropriations define the allocation of money for very specific programs and items”.
Congressional Budget Office, Budget and Economic Information
Congress implements budget resolution policies through action on individual revenue and debt-limit measures, annual appropriations acts, and direct spending legislation.

Federal Budget Timetable

From the US Code Online via GPO Access [www.gpoaccess.gov]

[Laws in effect as of January 3, 2007] [CITE: 2USC631] 2006 Edition

TITLE 2--THE CONGRESS

CHAPTER 17A--CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET AND FISCAL OPERATIONS

SUBCHAPTER I--CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET PROCESS

Sec. 631. Timetable The timetable with respect to the congressional budget process for any fiscal year is as follows:

On or before:	Action to be completed:
First Monday in February	President submits his budget.
February 15	Congressional Budget Office submits report to Budget Committees.
Not later than 6 weeks	Committees submit views and estimates after President submits to Budget Committees
April 1	Senate Budget Committee reports concurrent resolution on the budget.
April 15	Committees submit views and estimates after President submits to Budget Committees
May ?	Something
June 10	House Appropriations Committee reports last annual appropriation bill.
June 15	Congress completes action on reconciliation legislation.
June 30	House completes action on annual appropriation bills.
October 1	Fiscal year begins.

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