Congressional Power of the Purse Act
Summary
The Congressional Power of the Purse Act aims to strengthen congressional oversight and control over federal spending. It focuses on preventing impoundment of funds, increasing transparency in reporting, and reforming emergency powers. The Act seeks to enhance the role of Congress in budgetary matters and limit executive overreach.
Expected Effects
The Act would likely lead to greater congressional scrutiny of budget execution and emergency declarations. It could also result in more accountability for agencies violating budgetary laws. The changes aim to ensure funds are spent as Congress intended and to provide more transparency to the public.
Potential Benefits
- Enhanced congressional oversight of budget authority.
- Increased transparency in government spending and reporting.
- Strengthened penalties for non-compliance with budget laws.
- Improved reporting on national emergency spending.
- Greater accountability for Antideficiency Act violations.
Most Benefited Areas:
Potential Disadvantages
- Potential for increased political gridlock in budget execution.
- Possible delays in emergency response due to stricter review processes.
- Increased reporting requirements could burden agencies.
- Risk of legislative overreach into executive functions.
- Potential for increased litigation related to budget authority.
Constitutional Alignment
The Act aligns with Article I, Section 9, Clause 7 of the Constitution, which states that "No Money shall be drawn from the Treasury, but in Consequence of Appropriations made by Law." It reinforces Congress's power of the purse. The Act also addresses the balance of power between the executive and legislative branches, a core constitutional principle. The provisions related to emergency powers are intended to ensure that presidential actions remain within constitutional limits.
Impact Assessment: Things You Care About ⓘ
This action has been evaluated across 19 key areas that matter to you. Scores range from 1 (highly disadvantageous) to 5 (highly beneficial).