# Federal Appropriations Law (Self-Paced)

Canonical URL: <https://www.graduateschool.edu/courses/federal-appropriations-law-self-paced>

## Overview

In this comprehensive course, you will learn how to correctly interpret and apply federal appropriations law to the use of appropriated funds. You will gain a solid foundation in federal government appropriations law using the Government Accountability Office (GAO) Principles of Federal Appropriations Law (Red Book), Chapters 1 through 9 as the text. After the course, you will be able to determine the availability of appropriations as to purpose, time, and amount, and to avoid Antideficiency Act errors. The course also explores the relationship of agency budgets to appropriations, and the propriety, timing, and legality of certain types of expenditures. Working in teams, you will gain practical experience by completing case studies that are based on actual Comptroller General Decisions.

## What you'll learn

- Authoritatively guide decision makers on the legality of proposed actions.
- Assess the propriety of administrative decisions.
- Apply Comptroller General Decisions to organizational activities.
- Support your agency in the legal use of annual, multi-year, and no-year appropriations.
- Assist in a review of proposed in-house regulations.

## Curriculum

#### Module 1: Introduction

- Understand the objectives and scope of federal appropriations law.
- Recognize the importance of legal compliance in managing public funds.
- Identify key sources and resources for learning appropriations law.

#### Module 2: The Legal Framework

- Examine the hierarchy of laws, including the Constitution, statutes, and regulations.
- Understand the roles of Congress, the President, and the courts in appropriations.
- Identify key decisions from the Government Accountability Office (GAO) and their impact.
- Review the relationship between appropriations law and administrative law.

#### Module 3: Availability of Appropriations: Purpose

- Learn the “Purpose Statute” and its application in federal spending.
- Identify restrictions on using funds for purposes other than those intended by Congress.
- Examine examples of permissible and impermissible uses of appropriations.
- Understand GAO interpretations and rulings on purpose violations.

#### Module 5: Availability of Appropriations: Time

- Understand time restrictions on the use of appropriated funds.
- Differentiate between one-year, multiple-year, and no-year appropriations.
- Learn about the Bona Fide Needs Rule and its application.
- Identify violations related to the timing of obligations and expenditures.

#### Module 6: Availability of Appropriations: Amount

- Understand the Antideficiency Act and its requirements.
- Identify rules for ensuring expenditures do not exceed appropriated amounts.
- Learn about apportionments, allocations, and allotments.
- Recognize penalties and consequences for violations of amount restrictions.

#### Module 7: Obligation of Appropriations

- Define what constitutes an obligation under appropriations law.
- Identify legal requirements for recording obligations.
- Distinguish between valid and invalid obligations.

#### Module 8: Continuing Resolutions

- Understand the role and purpose of continuing resolutions (CRs).
- Identify limitations on spending during a CR period.
- Review strategies for managing operations under CR funding.

#### Module 9: Liability and Relief of Accountable Officers

- Understand the responsibilities of accountable officers for federal funds.
- Identify types of liability, including physical loss and improper payments.
- Learn about processes for seeking relief from liability.

## Pricing

**Tuition:** $1649