Today marks the start of a fresh federal fiscal year. Lawyers who practice for the federal
government are not the only ones who need to know appropriations; attorneys representing
state and local governments or contractors also benefit from familiarity with
federal fiscal law.
The mainstay of federal appropriations law, the Government
Accountability Office’s, Red
Book will help you navigate the guiding CYA principles: color (purpose),
year (timing), and amount. Find appropriations for recent years at congress.gov. If you want
to delve more deeply into the federal budget, Morgan
M. Stoddard presents ten free online places to start.