Effects of Potential Government Shutdown: Joint Hearing Before the Committee on the Budget, United States Senate and the House of Representatives, . Session, September 19, 1995 (Classic Reprint)

Excerpt from Effects of Potential Government Shutdown: Joint Hearing Before the Committee on the Budget, United States Senate and the House of Representatives, Committee on the Budget, One Hundred Fourth Congress, First Session, September 19, 1995

Our starting point in addressing these questions is the Constitution itself. One of the Constitution's least heralded, but most fundamentally important, provisions is found in Article I, 9. It reads: No Money shall be drawn from the Treasury, but in Consequence of Appropriations made by Law.

This provision expresses what is commonly known as Congress's power of the purse. It is no exaggeration to say that it is a principle for which patriots fought and died and it means what it says: without authorization by the vote of the people's representatives in Congress, not one dime can be spent from the United States Treasury.

Therefore, one consequence of a lapse in appropriations is mandated by the Constitution no one can be paid any money from the Treasury when the necessary appropriations bill has not been enacted. Should we reach October 1 without all appropriations bills having been signed into law, and no continuing resolution in place, employees cannot be paid, contract payments cannot be made, government rents cannot be paid, in all cases where the necessary appropriations bill is lacking.

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