Appropriations Law FAQs
- What are appropriations decisions and opinions?
- How do I search for appropriations decisions and opinions?
- When does GAO make appropriations decisions and opinions publicly available?
- Who can request an appropriations law decision from GAO?
- How do I request a decision? Can I use e-mail?
- Does GAO offer appropriations law training?
- Where may I direct a question about the Red Book (Principles of Federal Appropriations Law)?
- How do I use the interactive table of authorities?
- How do I obtain a copy of the Red Book?
- How do I obtain a copy of an Antideficiency Act report filed with GAO?
- Where do I find the current edition of title 7 of the Policy and Procedures Manual for Guidance of Federal Agencies?
- What is the Budget Glossary?
- What are appropriations decisions and opinions?
The Comptroller General provides
- opinions to Members and Committees of Congress, and decisions to certain agency officials on questions involving the use of, and accountability for, public funds, 31 U.S.C. §§ 3526, 3529, and
- decisions to relieve accountable officers for certain losses of public funds, 31 U.S.C. 3527, §§ 3528.
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- How do I search for appropriations decisions and opinions?
Search all decisions or opinions by using the “Search Only Legal Decisions” link in the upper right corner of every page. [back to top]
- When does GAO make appropriations decisions and opinions publicly available?
Shortly after issuing a decision or opinion, it will be available on the View Recent Appropriations Decisions page. [back to top]
- Who can request an appropriations law decision from GAO?
Certain agency officials may request decisions. Members and congressional committees may request appropriations opinions.
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- How do I request a decision? Can I use e-mail?
Agencies must submit requests by letter, signed by an authorized official to the Comptroller General or GAO’s General Counsel. Scanned copies of signed, dated letters are acceptable. For more information, see Procedures and Practices for Legal Decisions and Opinions. For further information on submitting requests for decisions or opinions, please contact Julie Matta (mattaj@gao.gov) or Omyra Ramsingh (ramsingho@gao.gov), Assistant General Counsels for Appropriations and Budget. [back to top]
- Does GAO offer appropriations law training?
Yes. We offer a 2-1/2 day course on appropriations law. Read more about the Principles of Appropriations Law Course. [back to top]
- Where may I direct a question about the Red Book (Principles of Federal Appropriations Law)?
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- How do I use the interactive table of authorities?
The interactive table of authorities for the Red Book lets you more easily research appropriations law. Page citations in the index, as well as case citations in the table of authorities, are linked to pages in volumes I, II, and III of the Red Book where citations are mentioned. For more information, see Use the Interactive Third Edition Volumes and Index/TOA.
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- How do I get the Red Book’s annual update?
GAO publishes an annual update of the Principles of Federal Appropriations Law each year, usually in March. It is meant to be read alongside the three volumes, complementing the text contained therein. The update’s contents alert the reader to the pages in the Red Book being supplemented. It is available on the Red Book page.
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- How do I obtain a copy of the Red Book?
You can get an electronic version on the Red Book page. For a printed copy, check with the Government Printing Office. GAO’s annual update to the Red Book is only available online.
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- How do I obtain a copy of an Antideficiency Act report filed with GAO?
You can browse agency reports on violations of the Antideficiency Act on this Web site.
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- Where do I find the current edition of title 7 of the Policy and Procedures Manual for Guidance of Federal Agencies?
Title 7 of the manual, providing fiscal law guidance for federal agencies, was last published in 1993. Get this manual.
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- What is the Budget Glossary?
As required by law, GAO publishes A Glossary of Terms Used in the Federal Budget Process. It includes terms, classifications, and other information related to public funds and their use and is produced in coordination with the Secretary of the Treasury, the Director of the Office of Management and Budget, and the Director of the Congressional Budget Office.
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