Authorization, Annual
Legislation that authorizes appropriations for a single fiscal year and usually for a specific amount.
Under the rules of the authorization-appropriation process, an annually authorized agency or program must be reauthorized each year if it is to receive appropriations for that year.
Sometimes Congress fails to enact the reauthorization but nevertheless provides appropriations to continue the program, circumventing the rules by one means or another.
Source: House Budget Committee
See also: Authorization
National Debt Glossary
Looks up the key terms for understanding America's financial crisis