Congressional control of the budget

The power of the purse is exercised through several documents, not one annual vote. Budget resolutions coordinate congressional targets; authorizations establish programs and policies; revenue laws govern receipts; and appropriations provide budget authority for covered spending.

Executive participation remains substantial. The president proposes priorities, signs or vetoes fiscal legislation, and agencies execute enacted programs. Congress can attach restrictions and reporting requirements, but it cannot perform day-to-day execution itself or treat a committee request as law.

Budget control creates use only when the relevant law changes or money is withheld under constitutional procedures. A threat to cut funds can induce negotiation before enactment, while an enacted limitation binds execution. Distinguish political bargaining from legal availability of budget authority.

Video lesson: Congressional Decisions: Crash Course Government and Politics #10