Instead, a number of laws and congressional rules contribute to the federal budget process, with two statutes in particular forming the basic framework. The Budget and Accounting Act of 1921, as codified in Title 31 of the United States Code , established the statutory basis for an executive budget process by requiring the President to submit to Congress annually a proposed budget for the federal government. Although it also does not have the force of law, the budget resolution is a central part of the budget process in Congress. Appropriations bills are constrained in terms of both their purpose and the amount of funding they provide. Any change in the authorized level of the public debt must be implemented through a statutory enactment.
The term "budget process," when applied to the federal government, actually refers to a number of processes that have evolved separately and that occur with varying degrees of coordination. This overview, and the accompanying flow chart, are intended to describe in brief each of the parts of the budget process that involve Congress, clarify the role played by each, and explain how they operate together. They include the President's budget submission, the budget resolution, reconciliation, sequestration, authorizations, and appropriations.
This report will be updated to reflect any changes in the budget process.