Title 31, Money and FinanceRelease 119-102
§1347 Appropriations or Authorizations Required for Agencies in Existence for More Than One Year
Title 31 › SUBTITLE II — THE BUDGET PROCESS › CHAPTER 13 — APPROPRIATIONS › SUBCHAPTER III — LIMITATIONS, EXCEPTIONS, AND PENALTIES › § 1347
Summary
An agency existing more than one year cannot use funds to pay expenses unless a specific law authorizes it. A later agency with the same duties as an executive‑order agency is treated as having started when the earlier one did. Other agencies may not use funds for those duties unless law allows.
Full Legal Text
Title 31, §1347
Money and Finance, Source: USLM XML via OLRC
(a)An agency in existence for more than one year may not use amounts otherwise available for obligation to pay its expenses without a specific appropriation or specific authorization by law. If the principal duties and powers of the agency are substantially the same as or similar to the duties and powers of an agency established by executive order, the agency established later is deemed to have been in existence from the date the agency established by the order came into existence.
(b)Except as specifically authorized by law, another agency may not use amounts available for obligation to pay expenses to carry out duties and powers substantially the same as or similar to the principal duties and powers of an agency that is prohibited from using amounts under this section.
Legislative History
Notes & Related Subsidiaries
Historical and Revision Notes
Revised SectionSource (U.S. Code)Source (Statutes at Large) 1347(a)31:696(1st, 2d sentences).June 27, 1944, ch. 286, § 213, 58 Stat. 387. 1347(b)31:696(last sentence). In the section, the word “agency” is substituted for “agency or instrumentality” because of section 101 of the revised title and for consistency. The words “amounts otherwise available for obligation” are substituted for “any appropriation or fund made available by this or any other Act”, and the words “duties and powers” are substituted for “functions”, for consistency in the revised title. In subsection (a), the words “After January 1, 1945” are omitted as executed. The words “including those established by Executive order” are omitted the first time they appear as surplus. The words “from the date . . . came into existence” are substituted for “during the existence” for clarity. In subsection (b), the word “amounts” is substituted for “appropriations” for consistency in the revised title.
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
31 U.S.C. § 1347
Title 31, Money and Finance
Last Updated
Aug 21, 2026
Release point: 119-102