The federal budget process

How the President, Congress and agencies decide what the government spends each year.

President's budget: The White House (Office of Management and Budget) proposes a budget, usually in February.
Budget resolution: Congress may adopt an overall plan setting spending totals. It is not a law.
Appropriations bills: Twelve subcommittee bills set agency funding for the fiscal year.
Pass and sign: Both chambers pass them and the President signs, by October 1.
Stopgap if late: If not done, a continuing resolution keeps funding going; otherwise a shutdown.
Agencies spend: Agencies obligate the money through contracts, grants and loans, published on USAspending.gov.

The federal fiscal year runs October 1 to September 30. You can see where awarded money ends up on the Money page and on every state and county page.

What you can do

Appropriation: Money a legislature sets aside by law for a specific purpose. Government agencies may spend public money only as it has been appropriated.
Continuing resolution: A temporary law that keeps government agencies funded, usually at the previous year's levels, when the regular yearly spending bills are not finished by the start of the fiscal year.
Fiscal year: The 12-month period a government uses for its budget. The federal fiscal year runs from October 1 to September 30 and is named for the calendar year in which it ends. Most states use July 1 to June 30.
Obligation: A binding promise by a government agency to pay money, for example by signing a contract or awarding a grant. Spending data such as USAspending.gov counts money when it is obligated, which can be before it is actually paid out.
CBO cost estimate: The Congressional Budget Office's estimate of how a federal bill would change government spending and revenue. CBO is nonpartisan.