<Tr> <Td> <Ul> <Li> </Li> <Li> </Li> <Li> </Li> </Ul> </Td> </Tr> <Ul> <Li> </Li> <Li> </Li> <Li> </Li> </Ul> <P> In the United States, a continuing resolution (often abbreviated to CR) is a type of appropriations legislation . An appropriations bill is a bill that appropriates (gives to, sets aside for) money to specific federal government departments, agencies, and programs . The money provides funding for operations, personnel, equipment, and activities . Regular appropriations bills are passed annually, with the funding they provide covering one fiscal year . The fiscal year is the accounting period of the federal government, which runs from October 1 to September 30 of the following year . When Congress and the president fail to agree on and pass one or more of the regular appropriations bills, a continuing resolution can be passed instead . A continuing resolution continues the pre-existing appropriations at the same levels as the previous fiscal year (or with minor modifications) for a set amount of time . Continuing resolutions typically provide funding at a rate or formula based on the previous year's funding . The funding extends until a specific date or regular appropriations bills are passed, whichever comes first . There can be some changes to some of the accounts in a continuing resolution . The continuing resolution takes the form of a joint resolution, and may provide bridging funding for existing federal programs at current, reduced, or expanded levels . </P> <P> An appropriations bill is a bill that appropriates (gives to, sets aside for) money to specific federal government departments, agencies, and programs . The money provides funding for operations, personnel, equipment, and activities . Traditionally, regular appropriations bills are passed annually, with the funding they provide covering one fiscal year . </P>

When would congress consider passing a continuing resolution