Article I, section 9, clause 7 of the Constitution of the United States provides that "[n]o money shall be drawn from the Treasury, but in Consequence of Appropriations made by Law; and a regular Statement and account of Receipts and Expenditures of all public Money shall be published from time to time." From the early years of the nation there was a recognized need for the government to have a budget. In addition, Article I, section 5, clause 2, of the Constitution reserves to each House of Congress the authority to determine the rules governing its procedures. The Congressional Budget and Impoundment Control Act of 1974 (the Budget Act), which contains several titles and sections that affect the internal procedures of the House and Senate, was enacted under this Constitutional rulemaking authority. Congress enacted the Budget Act with the full recognition that each House could change these rules at any time and in a manner consistent with past practice. Rules changes are usually accomplished upon adoption of either a simple resolution (for a change that affects one House) or a concurrent resolution (for changes that may affect both Houses).

The federal budget has two distinct but equally important purposes. The first is to provide a financial measure of federal expenditures, receipts, deficits, and debt levels and their impact on the economy in order to promote economic stability and growth. The second is to provide the means for the Federal government to efficiently collect and allocate resources to meet national objectives.

The congressional budget process, as set forth in the Budget Act, requires Congress to annually establish the level of total spending and revenues and how total spending should be divided among the 20 major functions of government such as defense, agriculture, and health. These functional levels are the sum of discretionary and mandatory spending for each fiscal year covered by a budget resolution. The budget resolution does not become law, but is an agreement (agreed to by mutual adoption of a concurrent resolution) between the House and Senate. It acts as an internal mechanism for guiding deliberations (enforceable through points of order) on revenue, spending, and other budget-related legislation. Title III of the Congressional Budget Act establishes a specific timetable for each of the actions required in the congressional budget process. That timetable 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 after the President submits the budget.	Committees submit views and estimates to Budget Committees. (Frequently, the House Budget Committee sets own date based on Legislative Calendar)
April 1	Senate Budget Committee reports concurrent resolution on the budget.
April 15	Congress completes action on the concurrent resolution on the budget. (This is not signed by the President).*
May 15	Annual appropriation bills may be considered in House.
June 10	House Appropriations Committee reports last annual appropriation bill.
June 15	Congress completes action on reconciliation legislation. (If required by the budget resolution).
June 30	House completes action on annual appropriation bills.
October 1	Fiscal year begins.

***For more information on the budget process see www.house.gov/rules/ or contact the Rules or Budget Committees.

Key Parliamentary Term

Congressional Budget and Impoundment Control Act of 1974 - The law that established the basic elements of the congressional budget process, the House and Senate Budget Committees, the Congressional Budget Office, and the procedures for congressional review of impoundments in the form of rescissions and deferrals proposed by the President.