The House of Representatives and the Power of the Purse

So why does the House of Representatives get the first say regarding federal spending? It goes back to the Constitution. Article I, Section 7 clearly states, “All bills for raising revenue shall originate in the House of Representatives.” This provision is known as the “power of the purse,” and it’s one of the essential tools…

The 12 Appropriations Bills

In the U.S. Congress, the federal government’s discretionary spending is divided into 12 annual appropriations bills. A separate appropriations subcommittee handles each bill and funds a major part of the government. Congress is supposed to pass all 12 each fiscal year before October 1. When they don’t, lawmakers usually pass a “continuing resolution” (CR) or…

How the Federal Budget Is Created: A Deep Dive Into the Process

Every year, the U.S. federal government undertakes one of its most important and complex responsibilities: building the national budget. While it may seem like a straightforward matter of spreadsheets and line items, the budget reflects the nation’s values—what we choose to invest in, what we decide to cut, and how we manage our collective future.…

Patsy Mink: The Woman Who Changed the Rules So Everyone Could Play

Patsy Mink didn’t set out to make history—she just wanted a fair shot. Born on a sugar plantation in Hawaii, she worked hard, studied harder, and believed in the simple idea that the rules should work for everyone, not just a few. What she found, though, was that the rules weren’t made for people like…

Citizens Guide to the Federal Budget

Our free online resource answers questions to help Americans understand how the federal budget is created.

Budget vs. Continuing Resolution

Every fall, as the leaves start to turn and the government fiscal year looms on October 1, lawmakers in Washington find themselves in a familiar situation: racing against the clock to fund the government. Occasionally, they successfully complete the task with a comprehensive budget. Other times, they settle for a temporary fix called a continuing…

Omnibus Bills: What They Are, Why They’re Used, and Why They Spark Debate

Every year, Congress faces the monumental task of funding the federal government. This includes everything from the military and national parks to education and public health. In a perfect world, lawmakers would pass 12 individual appropriations bills, each carefully reviewed and debated, before the fiscal year begins on October 1. But in recent decades, that…

The Parliamentarian: The Quiet Referee Shaping America’s Budget Debates

If you’ve ever watched a dramatic Senate debate unfold on TV and wondered who’s keeping all the rules straight, the answer isn’t always the Vice President or even a senator. Behind the scenes sits one of the most quietly influential figures in Washington: the Senate Parliamentarian. Though largely unknown to the public, this nonpartisan expert…

Bypassing the Filibuster: How Budget Reconciliation Shapes American Policy

Budget reconciliation may sound like a dry procedural term, but in the realm of U.S. politics, it’s one of the most powerful tools available to lawmakers—especially when trying to pass major legislation in a gridlocked Congress. Over the past few decades, it has become a key part of the political playbook, utilized to push through…

Mandatory vs. Discretionary Spending: The Federal Budget’s Two Worlds

When people picture the federal budget, they often imagine Congress gathered around debating how to spend taxpayer dollars—deciding whether to fund schools, repair bridges, or increase defense spending. And while that’s partly true, what most don’t realize is that Congress has direct control over only about a third of the budget each year. The rest?…