obligational authority

American  

noun

1. the necessary authority that precedes budget spending by a government agency or department, granted by Congress through appropriations.

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Example Sentences

"Total obligational authority," the Pentagon's right to sign contracts for future spending, would leap to $258 billion, a 13.2% inflation-adjusted rise.

From Time Magazine Archive

Actually, the Pentagon is asking for $104.7 billion in "total obligational authority" so that it can sign contracts for weapons or research and development to be delivered in four or five years.

From Time Magazine Archive

Expenditures, $10.2 billion, a cut of $4 billion below this year; new obligational authority, $8.2 billion, down $4.5 billion.

From Time Magazine Archive

It will call for new obligational authority of $103.8 billion �a reduction of more than $4 billion below last year's request of $107.9 billion.

From Time Magazine Archive

It will call for new obligational authority of $103,800 million—a reduction of more than $4 billion below last year's request of $107,900 million.

From State of the Union Address by Johnson, Lyndon B. (Lyndon Baines)