APPROPRIATIONS AND FUNDS Before we go further into appropriation accounting, we  need  to  examine  the  basic  differences  between appropriations  and  funds.  Let’s  first  take  a  careful  look at  appropriations.  As  a  senior  DK,  you  should understand the specific terms that are associated with different types of appropriations. Since you will be required to provide accurate documentation for each type of appropriation, you should be completely aware of the important terms and their definitions that we will explain  in  the  following  sections. APPROPRIATIONS An  appropriation  is  an  authorization  by  an  act  of Congress to incur obligations for specified purposes and to make payments therefor from the Treasury. Simply stated, an appropriation results from an act of Congress  to  provide  the  funding  authority  for  the  Navy to  accomplish  specific  functions  or  missions. Types of Appropriation Acts To establish or amend an appropriation, Congress can pass three different types of appropriation acts: (1) regular, (2) supplemental, and (3) deficiency. REGULAR  APPROPRIATION  ACT.—  A regular appropriation act is the first appropriation act passed  by  Congress  for  a  specific  purpose  for  a particular fiscal year. SUPPLEMENTAL   APPROPRIATION ACT.— A  supplemental  appropriation  act  changes  the monetary  limitation,  the  purpose,  or  both,  of  an appropriation  that  is  still  available  for  obligation  or  for payment  of  existing  obligations.  A  supplemental appropriation act may also be used to establish an appropriation that was not included in the regular appropriation  act. DEFICIENCY  APPROPRIATION  ACT.—  A deficiency appropriation act allows Congress to change the monetary limitation of a particular appropriation to permit   the   liquidation   of   known   or   anticipated obligations when the sums appropriated in the regular appropriation  act  are  not  sufficient  to  meet  these obligations. Just   as   there   are   different   acts   by   which appropriations can be established or amended, there are also different types of appropriations. As a senior DK, you will encounter a variety of terms, each associated with a specific type of appropriation. You must be able to recognize the different types of appropriations. Types  of  Appropriations Although  there  are  several  types  of  appropriations, each type is designated by its own special term. The status of the appropriation is the determining factor. In our explanation of the following terms, notice how the status of the specific appropriation figures strongly in the definition of each term and actually establishes basic conditions  under  which  the  Navy  must  use  that particular  appropriation. ANNUAL  APPROPRIATION—  An  annual appropriation  is  available  for  the  incurring  of obligations  only  in  the  fiscal  year  specified  in  the appropriation  act.  An  annual  appropriation  is  also referred to as a 1-year appropriation. MULTIPLE-YEAR  APPROPRIATION—  A multiple-year   appropriation   is   available   for   the incurring of obligations for a definite period of time, but the period of time must exceed 1 fiscal year. CONTINUING   APPROPRIATION—  A continuing appropriation is available for the incurring of  obligations  until  the  appropriation  is  exhausted  or until the purpose for which the appropriation was made is  accomplished. Also  referred  to  as  a  no-year appropriation, a continuing appropriation has no fixed period  of  time. CURRENT  APPROPRIATION—  A current appropriation  is  available  for  the  incurring  of obligations only during the current fiscal year. This is also  called  an  unexpired  appropriation. EXPIRED APPROPRIATION—  An expired appropriation is one that is no longer available for additional obligations, but it is still available for 2 years from  the  date  of  expiration  for  liquidation  of  any existing  obligations. DEFINITE APPROPRIATION—  A definite appropriation  has  the  amount  stated  in  the  appropriation act as a specified sum of money. INDEFINITE  APPROPRIATION—  A n indefinite appropriation is one that does not have a specific amount stated in the appropriation act. Instead, the specific amount is determined at some future date from  the  sources  specified  in  the  appropriation  act. LAPSED  APPROPRIATION—  A  lapsed appropriation is one that has an undisbursed balance, but by law is not available for disbursement. 2-2