Jessica Tollestrup
Analyst on Congress and the Legislative Process
Seven of the past eight Congresses, covering the 103rd Congress through the 110th Congress, have concluded with a lame-duck session (no such session occurred in 1996, during the 104th Congress). The consideration of annual appropriations acts has been an important element of some, but not all, of these lame-duck sessions. Although no annual appropriation acts were considered during lame-duck sessions held in 1994, 1998, and 2008, a total of 14 regular and 11 continuing appropriations acts were considered and subsequently enacted into law during the four other lame-duck sessions held in 2000, 2002, 2004, and 2006.
Although some (and occasionally all) regular appropriations acts may be enacted into law before the start of the fiscal year, in recent decades it has been common for many regular appropriations acts to be enacted after the start of the fiscal year. In the past, this has triggered the necessity for continuing resolutions to extend spending authority until the annual appropriations acts have been enacted. Additionally, this has periodically necessitated the consideration of regular appropriations legislation during the last quarter of the calendar year, or even during the following session.
This report provides information on the consideration of annual appropriations acts in the years that lame-duck sessions occurred between 1994 and 2008 (FY1995, FY1999, FY2001, FY2003, FY2005, FY2007, and FY2009). A lame-duck session occurs during the period following election day, which is the Tuesday after the first Monday in November of each even-numbered year, and before the convening of a new Congress about two months later in early January. Several factors may contribute to the occurrence of lame-duck sessions, including the need to deal with unfinished appropriations or other budgetary matters.
A total of 131 annual appropriations acts—88 regular appropriations acts and 43 continuing appropriations acts—were enacted into law for FY1995-FY2009 before, during, and after the seven most recent lame-duck sessions. With respect to the 88 regular appropriations acts, 45 were enacted into law before the beginning of the applicable lame-duck session, 14 were enacted during the lame-duck session, and 29 were enacted afterwards. With respect to the 43 continuing appropriations acts, 28 were enacted into law before the beginning of the applicable lame-duck session, 11 were enacted during the lame-duck session, and four were enacted afterwards.
Date of Report: August 25, 2010
Number of Pages: 18
Order Number: RL34597
Price: $29.95
Follow us on TWITTER at http://www.twitter.com/alertsPHP or #CRSreports
Document available via e-mail as a pdf file or in paper form.
To order, e-mail Penny Hill Press or call us at 301-253-0881. Provide a Visa, MasterCard, American Express, or Discover card number, expiration date, and name on the card. Indicate whether you want e-mail or postal delivery. Phone orders are preferred and receive priority processing.
Analyst on Congress and the Legislative Process
Seven of the past eight Congresses, covering the 103rd Congress through the 110th Congress, have concluded with a lame-duck session (no such session occurred in 1996, during the 104th Congress). The consideration of annual appropriations acts has been an important element of some, but not all, of these lame-duck sessions. Although no annual appropriation acts were considered during lame-duck sessions held in 1994, 1998, and 2008, a total of 14 regular and 11 continuing appropriations acts were considered and subsequently enacted into law during the four other lame-duck sessions held in 2000, 2002, 2004, and 2006.
Although some (and occasionally all) regular appropriations acts may be enacted into law before the start of the fiscal year, in recent decades it has been common for many regular appropriations acts to be enacted after the start of the fiscal year. In the past, this has triggered the necessity for continuing resolutions to extend spending authority until the annual appropriations acts have been enacted. Additionally, this has periodically necessitated the consideration of regular appropriations legislation during the last quarter of the calendar year, or even during the following session.
This report provides information on the consideration of annual appropriations acts in the years that lame-duck sessions occurred between 1994 and 2008 (FY1995, FY1999, FY2001, FY2003, FY2005, FY2007, and FY2009). A lame-duck session occurs during the period following election day, which is the Tuesday after the first Monday in November of each even-numbered year, and before the convening of a new Congress about two months later in early January. Several factors may contribute to the occurrence of lame-duck sessions, including the need to deal with unfinished appropriations or other budgetary matters.
A total of 131 annual appropriations acts—88 regular appropriations acts and 43 continuing appropriations acts—were enacted into law for FY1995-FY2009 before, during, and after the seven most recent lame-duck sessions. With respect to the 88 regular appropriations acts, 45 were enacted into law before the beginning of the applicable lame-duck session, 14 were enacted during the lame-duck session, and 29 were enacted afterwards. With respect to the 43 continuing appropriations acts, 28 were enacted into law before the beginning of the applicable lame-duck session, 11 were enacted during the lame-duck session, and four were enacted afterwards.
Date of Report: August 25, 2010
Number of Pages: 18
Order Number: RL34597
Price: $29.95
Follow us on TWITTER at http://www.twitter.com/alertsPHP or #CRSreports
Document available via e-mail as a pdf file or in paper form.
To order, e-mail Penny Hill Press or call us at 301-253-0881. Provide a Visa, MasterCard, American Express, or Discover card number, expiration date, and name on the card. Indicate whether you want e-mail or postal delivery. Phone orders are preferred and receive priority processing.
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