Appropriation
Appropriation is, in government, the provision of funds (either through an annual appropriations act or a permanent law) which allow government agencies to spend money for specified purposes.
In the Federal Government, the formal federal spending process consists of two sequential steps: authorization and then appropriation[1] (traditionally there have been 12 separate appropriations bills, though often funding has been provided via continuing resolutions).
At the state and local levels, the two steps are usually combined when the annual budget is passed as it also serves as the appropriation act, though supplemental appropriations are often made throughout the fiscal year to add additional funding and/or to shift funding between accounts as needed to cover unexpected expenditures.
