CON 216- Funding and Fiscal Matters

Question 1

Identify the process by which Government expenditures are authorized and funded.

Answer 1

• First, the Executive Branch prepares a budget with oversight by the OMB.
• Second, the Executive Branch budget goes to Congress for review, modification or approval. Money gets authorized.
• Third; the Legislative Branch appropriates the money with Purpose, Time and Amount constraints.
• Lastly; the Agencies then commit, obligate and liquidate the funds according to congressional PTA controls.

Question 2

Differentiate the major types of appropriations and their uses.

Answer 2

• Operations and Maintenance (O&M) – used for day-to-day operations, ie training, deployments, civilian salaries.
• Personnel – for military salaries, PCS.
• Research, Development, Test and Evaluation (RDT&E) – used for basic and applied scientific research, development, test.
• Procurement – used for production and modification of aircraft, missiles, weapons, bullets, bombs, MREs.

Question 3

Identify the most common constraints on the use of appropriated funds.

Answer 3

(PTA)

1. Purpose.
2. Time.
3. Amount.

Question 4

When does “No-year money” become unavailable?

Answer 4

No-year obligations:
-No-year obligations become unavailable for obligation if:

• the agency head determines the purpose fulfilled, or
• no disbursements made for 2 consecutive fiscal years.

Question 5

What are the time limitations of funds?

Answer 5

-One year (annual funds): Must obligate the funds in the
year that they are appropriated. Mostly used for salaries
and supplies that can be delivered within 2 years.
- Multi-year (no greater than 5): Ongoing programs, R&D,
construction, aircraft and missile procurements.
- No-year obligations: Expanded programs over several
year periods for things not recently available to the
Military branches.

Question 6

What is authorization?

Answer 6

AUTHORIZATION (of the Appropriation) DOES NOT make money available, but it may tell us the purpose Congress intends for the money, and it often contains restrictions on how money may be spent.

Question 7

What is appropriations?

Answer 7

APPROPRIATION makes money available TO SPEND for various purposes as indicated by Congress.

Question 8

Where does a U.S. Government Agency get

the money to buy bullets, bombs or beans?

Answer 8

Article I, Section 9, Clause 7: “No money shall be drawn
from the Treasury, but in consequence of Appropriations
made by Law….”