Appropriations Clause

The Appropriations Clause, also known as the “Power of the Purse,” is a clause in the United States Constitution that gives Congress the authority to control the federal government’s spending and financial transactions.

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The Appropriations Clause is found in Article I, Section 9, Clause 7 of the Constitution, and it provides that “No money shall be drawn from the Treasury, but in Consequence of Appropriations made by Law.” This means that Congress, as the representative body of the people, has the power to decide how the government’s money should be spent and to authorize the disbursement of funds from the federal treasury. The Appropriations Clause is an important check on the executive branch’s power and ensures that the government’s spending is subject to the democratic process and the will of the people. The Appropriations Clause is also used as the basis for Congress’s power of oversight over the executive branch, as Congress can use its control over the government’s funding to influence and monitor the actions of the executive branch.

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[ Glossary ]

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