Authorization bill

A photo of the capitol building
The United States Capitol in Washington, D.C.

An authorization bill is a type of legislation used in the United States to authorize the activities of the various agencies and programs that are part of the federal government of the United States. Authorizing such programs is one of the powers of the United States Congress. Authorizations give those things the legal power to operate and exist.[1] Authorization bills must be passed in both the United States House of Representatives and the United States Senate before being signed by the President of the United States in order to become law.[2] They may originate in either chamber of Congress, unlike revenue raising bills, which must originate in the House.[3] They can also be considered at any time during the year.[4]

  1. ^ Oleszek, Walter J. (2008). Congressional procedures and the policy process (7. ed., [Nachdr.]. ed.). Washington, D.C.: CQ Press. p. 42. ISBN 9780872893030.
  2. ^ "Federal Budget Glossary". National Priorities Project. Retrieved February 12, 2014.
  3. ^ "Forms of Congressional Action". How Our Laws Are Made. Library of Congress. Archived from the original on July 21, 2013. Retrieved February 12, 2014.
  4. ^ Bill Heniff Jr.; Megan Suzanne Lynch; Jessica Tollestrup (December 3, 2012). "Introduction to the Federal Budget Process" (PDF). Congressional Research Service. Retrieved February 11, 2014.