Bill Heniff Jr.
Analyst on Congress and the Legislative Process
Justin Murray
Information Research Specialist
The Congressional Budget Act of 1974 (Titles I-IX of P.L. 93-344, as amended; 2 U.S.C. 601- 688) provides for the annual adoption of a concurrent resolution on the budget. The congressional budget resolution is an agreement between the House and Senate on a budget plan for the upcoming fiscal year and at least the following four fiscal years. As a concurrent resolution, it is not presented to the President for his signature and thus does not become law. The budget resolution, however, provides Congress a framework for subsequent legislative action on budget matters during each congressional session.
In 31 of the 36 years that the congressional budget process has been in effect, Congress adopted at least one budget resolution for the fiscal year beginning in such year; Congress did not complete action on a budget resolution for five fiscal years (FY1999 in 1998, FY2003 in 2002, FY2005 in 2004, FY2007 in 2006, and FY2011 in 2010). In total, during these 36 years, Congress adopted 39 budget resolutions. A second budget resolution was adopted in each of the first seven years and a third budget resolution was adopted in one year (for FY1977). Since 1982, Congress has adopted only one budget resolution for each fiscal year. Congress initially was required to cover only the upcoming fiscal year in the budget resolution, but over the years Congress has expanded this time frame. Currently, the budget resolution must include at least five fiscal years.
The budget resolution may include budget reconciliation directives, instructing one or more committees to recommend legislative changes to meet the direct spending and revenue levels included in the budget resolution. In the past 36 years, Congress included budget reconciliation directives in 21 budget resolutions, leading to the enactment of 20 budget reconciliation measures (four budget reconciliations have been vetoed).
During the past 36 years, the House has considered and adopted fewer amendments to the budget resolution than the Senate. The House has considered, on average, seven amendments per budget resolution. For more than two decades, the House has considered the budget resolutions under special rules that generally have made in order only amendments in the nature of a substitute. In all but one year, the House has rejected all such amendments. In contrast, the Senate has considered, on average, over 46 amendments per budget resolution, adopting, on average, over 26 of these.
The congressional budget timetable sets April 15 as a target date for completing action on the annual budget resolution (prior to 1986, the date was May 15). During the past 36 years, when Congress has completed action on a budget resolution, Congress adopted the budget resolution by the target date only six times, most recently in 2003 with the FY2004 budget resolution. Budget resolutions have been adopted, on average, almost 37 days after the target date.
Date of Report: April 4, 2011
Number of Pages: 42
Order Number: RL30297
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
Justin Murray
Information Research Specialist
The Congressional Budget Act of 1974 (Titles I-IX of P.L. 93-344, as amended; 2 U.S.C. 601- 688) provides for the annual adoption of a concurrent resolution on the budget. The congressional budget resolution is an agreement between the House and Senate on a budget plan for the upcoming fiscal year and at least the following four fiscal years. As a concurrent resolution, it is not presented to the President for his signature and thus does not become law. The budget resolution, however, provides Congress a framework for subsequent legislative action on budget matters during each congressional session.
In 31 of the 36 years that the congressional budget process has been in effect, Congress adopted at least one budget resolution for the fiscal year beginning in such year; Congress did not complete action on a budget resolution for five fiscal years (FY1999 in 1998, FY2003 in 2002, FY2005 in 2004, FY2007 in 2006, and FY2011 in 2010). In total, during these 36 years, Congress adopted 39 budget resolutions. A second budget resolution was adopted in each of the first seven years and a third budget resolution was adopted in one year (for FY1977). Since 1982, Congress has adopted only one budget resolution for each fiscal year. Congress initially was required to cover only the upcoming fiscal year in the budget resolution, but over the years Congress has expanded this time frame. Currently, the budget resolution must include at least five fiscal years.
The budget resolution may include budget reconciliation directives, instructing one or more committees to recommend legislative changes to meet the direct spending and revenue levels included in the budget resolution. In the past 36 years, Congress included budget reconciliation directives in 21 budget resolutions, leading to the enactment of 20 budget reconciliation measures (four budget reconciliations have been vetoed).
During the past 36 years, the House has considered and adopted fewer amendments to the budget resolution than the Senate. The House has considered, on average, seven amendments per budget resolution. For more than two decades, the House has considered the budget resolutions under special rules that generally have made in order only amendments in the nature of a substitute. In all but one year, the House has rejected all such amendments. In contrast, the Senate has considered, on average, over 46 amendments per budget resolution, adopting, on average, over 26 of these.
The congressional budget timetable sets April 15 as a target date for completing action on the annual budget resolution (prior to 1986, the date was May 15). During the past 36 years, when Congress has completed action on a budget resolution, Congress adopted the budget resolution by the target date only six times, most recently in 2003 with the FY2004 budget resolution. Budget resolutions have been adopted, on average, almost 37 days after the target date.
Date of Report: April 4, 2011
Number of Pages: 42
Order Number: RL30297
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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