explanatory statement described in section 4 (in the matter preceding division A of this consolidated Act). (b) Authorities (1) Funds made available by this Act for democracy programs pursuant to subsection (a) and under the heading National Endowment for Democracy may be made available notwithstanding any other provision of law, and with regard to the National Endowment for Democracy (NED), any regulation. (2) Funds made available by this Act for the NED are made available pursuant to the authority of the National Endowment for Democracy Act (title V of Public Law 98–164 ), including all decisions regarding the selection of beneficiaries. (c) Definition of Democracy Programs For purposes of funds appropriated by this Act, the term democracy programs means programs that support good governance, credible and competitive elections, freedom of expression, association, assembly, and religion, human rights, labor rights, independent media, and the rule of law, and that otherwise strengthen the capacity of democratic political parties, governments, nongovernmental organizations and institutions, and citizens to support the development of democratic states and institutions that are responsive and accountable to citizens. (d) Program Prioritization Funds made available pursuant to this section that are made available for programs to strengthen government institutions shall be prioritized for those institutions that demonstrate a commitment to democracy and the rule of law, as determined by the Secretary of State or the Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development, as appropriate. (e) Restriction on Prior Approval With respect to the provision of assistance for democracy programs in this Act, the organizations implementing such assistance, the specific nature of that assistance, and the participants in such programs shall not be subject to the prior approval by the government of any foreign country: Provided , That the Secretary of State, in coordination with the USAID Administrator, shall