An appropriations bill is a bill that appropriates (gives to, sets aside for) money to specific federal government departments, agencies, and programs. The money provides funding for operations, personnel, equipment, and activities.[1] Regular appropriations bills are passed annually, with the funding they provide covering one fiscal year. The fiscal year is the accounting period of the federal government, which runs from October 1 to September 30 of the following year.[3]
There are three types of appropriations bills: regular appropriations bills, continuing resolutions, and supplemental appropriations bills.[1] Regular appropriations bills are the twelve standard bills that cover the funding for the federal government for one fiscal year and that are supposed to be enacted into law by October 1.[4] If Congress has not enacted the regular appropriations bills by the time, it can pass a continuing resolution, which continues the pre-existing appropriations at the same levels as the previous fiscal year (or with minor modifications) for a set amount of time.[1] The third type of appropriations bills are supplemental appropriations bills, which add additional funding above and beyond what was originally appropriated at the beginning of the fiscal year. Supplemental appropriations bills can be used for things like disaster relief.[5]
Appropriations bills are one part of a larger United States budget and spending process. They are preceded in that process by the president's budget proposal, congressional budget resolutions, and the 302(b) allocation. Article One of the United States Constitution, section 9, clause 7, states that "No money shall be drawn from the Treasury, but in Consequence of Appropriations made by Law..." This is what gives Congress the power to make these appropriations. The President, however, still has the power to veto appropriations bills.[1]
This subcommittee continues to have jurisdiction over the budget of the District of Columbia, and was given jurisdiction over agency funding handled by the Subcommittee on Transportation, Treasury, the Judiciary and Housing and Urban Development. The new subcommittee is responsible for funding general provisions of the federal government, with primary jurisdiction over discretionary spending of the Treasury Department, the United States federal judiciary, and the District of Columbia. The most diverse subcommittee, it also oversees funding for the Executive Office of the President and the Office of Management and Budget as well as various independent federal agencies, including the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, the Federal Communications Commission, the Federal Election Commission, the National Archives and Records Administration, and Office of National Drug Control Policy.