The Appropriations Law Answer Book

Chapter 4

Amount (The Antideficiency Act)

Having covered purpose and time in the preceding two chapters, we come to the final tenet of appropriations law—amount. It is with this aspect of fiscal law that Congress exercises its ultimate control through the Antideficiency Act. Although purpose and time violations are in conflict with federal law, they carry no specific penalties and are often correctable without consequences to the agency or its personnel. However, when purpose or time violations result in an “amount” violation, or the agency creates an “amount” violation on its own, the Antideficiency Act comes into play. Penalties for violation ...