<P> In the United States, there are two types of appropriations . When Congress sets up particular programs, the legislation may itself set up the necessary appropriation mechanism, such as the social security program where payment of benefits are "mandatory". A mandatory program does not need an additional authorisation in order for spending under the program to occur . An authorization bill can create programs and make known Congress's intended level of spending for programs that also require an appropriation . What distinguishes a mandatory program from a discretionary program is that after Congress enacts a law creating a mandatory program, the program is permitted to spend funds until the program expires based on a provision in law, or until a subsequent law either terminates the program or reauthorizes it . "Discretionary" programs typically require annual appropriations legislation . </P> <P> An appropriation bill is used to actually provide money for "discretionary" programs . Appropriations are generally done on an annual basis, although multi-year appropriations are occasionally passed . According to the United States Constitution (Article I, Section 8, clause 12), Army appropriations cannot be for more than two years at a time . An annual appropriation requires that the funds appropriated be obligated (spent) by the end of the fiscal year of the appropriation . Once the fiscal year ends, no more money can be spent via the prior year's appropriation . A new appropriation for the new fiscal year must be passed in order for continued spending to occur, or passage of a special appropriations bill known as a continuing resolution, which generally permits continued spending for a short period of time--usually at prior year levels . The Anti-Deficiency Act makes void any attempt to spend money for which there is no current appropriation . </P> <P> According to the Origination Clause of the United States Constitution, all bills for raising revenue, generally tax bills, must originate in the House of Representatives, similar to the Westminster system requirement that all money bills originate in the lower house . Traditionally, though, appropriation bills also originate in the House of Representatives . House appropriations bills begin with "H.R.", meaning "House of Representatives". In reference to revenue bills, the Constitution also states that the "Senate may propose or concur with Amendments as on other Bills ." As with revenue bills, the Senate and House each drafts and considers its own appropriation bill . The Senate then "cuts - and - pastes," substituting the language of its version of a particular appropriation bill for the language of the House bill, then agrees to the bill as amended . </P> <P> The United States House Committee on Appropriations and the United States Senate Committee on Appropriations have jurisdiction over appropriations bills . Both committees have twelve matching subcommittees tasked with working on one of the twelve annual regular appropriations bills . Other Committees and lawmakers in Congress write legislation creating programs and reauthorizing old ones to continue . This legislation is called an authorization bill . In this legislation, they authorize these programs to exist, and they authorize the expenditure of funds on them, but they cannot actually give them the money . That second step, of granting the money, is done in an appropriations bill . The appropriations committees have power because they can decide whether to fund these programs at the maximum level authorized, a lesser amount, or not at all . </P>

Which house of congress has the power to introduce appropriation bills