Federal Appropriations Law

Upon course completion, students should have a thorough understanding of basic terminology of fiscal/appropriations law, be able to discuss the four phases of the budget and appropriations process, examine the role of the Government Accountability Office, understand basic concepts of "budget authority", learn the difference between transfer and reprogramming, discuss the relationship between authorizations and appropriations, determine congressional intent of legislation, examine authority of agency regulations and administrative discretion, understand the "purpose statute", learn what constitutes a "necessary expense", discuss specific purpose authority limitations, and much more.