The Appropriations Committee and the Budget Resolution

In 1865, all of the general appropriation bills were placed within the jurisdiction of the Committee on Appropriations. Since that time this committee has grown in its level of importance in the congressional budget process. Once the aggregate spending levels have been determined by the budget resolution, the Appropriations Committee is given an allocation (known as a section 302(a) allocation) for spending because that is the section of the Budget Act that includes this allocation authority. This allocation serves as an internal Congressional control mechanism, enforceable through points of order and other procedural mechanisms in both the House and Senate. The Appropriations Committees in the House and Senate may not exceed these aggregate totals in the bills they develop in the annual appropriations process.