The Budgeting Function of Congress

Each year, the President of the United States submits his budget request to Congress.

The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) performs key tasks in preparing the presidential budget request that is submitted to Congress.

Budget proposals during election years are usually politicized to gain votes and increase constituency support.

The budget resolution serves as a blueprint for the actual appropriations process and provides Congress with some control over the process.

Authorizations and appropriations functions are separate in principle, but this separation is often imperfect in reality.