<P> In general, funds for federal government programs must be authorized by an "authorizing committee" through enactment of legislation . Then, through subsequent acts by Congress, budget authority is then appropriated by the Appropriations Committee of the House . In principle, committees with jurisdiction to authorize programs make policy decisions, while the Appropriations Committees decide on funding levels, limited to a program's authorized funding level, though the amount may be any amount less than the limit . </P> <P> The budget resolutions specify funding levels for the House and Senate Appropriations Committees and their 12 subcommittees, establishing various budget totals, allocations, entitlements, and may include reconciliation instructions to designated House or Senate committees . The appropriations committees start with allocations in the budget resolution and draft appropriations bills, which may be considered in the House after May 15 . Once appropriations committees pass their bills, they are considered by the House and Senate . When there is a final budget, the spending available to each appropriations committee for the coming fiscal year is usually provided in the joint explanatory statement included in the conference report . The appropriations committees then allocate that amount among their respective subcommittees, each to allocate the funds they control among the programs within their jurisdiction . </P> <P> A conference committee is typically required to resolve differences between House and Senate appropriation bills . Once a conference bill has passed both chambers of Congress, it is sent to the President, who may sign the bill or veto it . If he signs, the bill becomes law . Otherwise, Congress must pass another bill to avoid a shutdown of at least part of the federal government . </P> <P> In recent years, Congress has not passed all of the appropriations bills before the start of the fiscal year . Congress may then enact continuing resolutions that provide for the temporary funding of government operations . Failure to appropriate funds results in a partial government shutdown, such the federal government shutdown in October 2013 . </P>

When was the last time a us budget was passed