§682 Definitions

Summary

Defines key words used later so people know what the terms mean. Deferral of budget authority — holding back or delaying the use or obligation of money Congress approved for programs, whether by setting aside funds, other executive actions or failures to act that stop spending, and including rules about making contracts before appropriations when the law allows. Comptroller General — the Comptroller General of the United States. Rescission bill — a bill or joint resolution that only cancels all or part of the budget authority the President asked to cancel and that Congress finishes within the first continuous 45 calendar days after it gets the President’s message. Impoundment resolution — a House or Senate resolution that only says it disapproves a President’s proposed deferral sent in a special message. Continuity of a session — a session is only broken by an adjournment sine die (a final end); days when either House is out because of an adjournment of more than 3 days to a day certain are left out when counting the 45-day and the 25-day deadlines mentioned elsewhere, and if a special message arrives near or after a final adjournment it is treated as retransmitted on the first day of the next Congress and the 45-day clock then starts the following day.