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'''Backdoor spending authority''' in the United States federal budget is authority to incur obligations that are outside the normal Congressional [[appropriation]]s process because it is provided in legislation other than appropriation acts. Since 1976, any bill that creates spending authority for funds that are not appropriated is subject to a point of order.  In effect, this procedural rule protect the House and Senate appropriations committee from being bypassed by the committees with substantive responsibility for various subjects.

'''Backdoor spending authority''' in the United States federal budget is authority to incur obligations that are outside the normal Congressional [[appropriation]]s process because it is provided in legislation other than appropriation acts. Former Democratic House Rules Committee Chairwoman Louise Slaughter determined that "spending authority is the technical term for backdoor authority and defined in section 401(c)(2) of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974, as amended, as various types of authority to obligate the [[United States]] to make payments, the budget authority for which is not provided in advance in appropriations acts.<ref>[http://democrats.rules.house.gov/archives/glossary_fbp.htm Glossary of Terms in the Federal Budget Process], Louise M. Slaughter.</ref> It can also be known as a [[permanent appropriation]].

 

Since 1976, any bill that creates spending authority for funds that are not appropriated is subject to a point of order.  In effect, this procedural rule is intended to protect the House and Senate appropriations committee from being bypassed by the committees with substantive responsibility for various subjects.

Various types of backdoor spending authority include authority to enter into [[contract]]s; to incur in[[debt]]edness; to make payments (including loans, grants and [[entitlement]]s) to persons, states and local [[government]]s and other entities that meet requirements established by [[law]]; to allow United States government executive departments and agencies to forgo collection of proprietary offsetting receipts<ref>collection of some taxes, fees and debts justly due.</ref>; and to make any other payments (including loans, grants, and payments from [[revolving fund]]s.

Various types of backdoor spending authority include authority to enter into [[contract]]s; to incur in[[debt]]edness; to make payments (including loans, grants and [[entitlement]]s) to persons, states and local [[government]]s and other entities that meet requirements established by [[law]]; to allow United States government executive departments and agencies to forgo collection of proprietary offsetting receipts<ref>collection of some taxes, fees and debts justly due.</ref>; and to make any other payments (including loans, grants, and payments from [[revolving fund]]s.