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

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

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

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)