GAO's course on Principles of Appropriations Law acquaints participants with the purposes and principles of federal fiscal law. It blends lecture, case studies, and student participation in a way that engages and challenges participants, while maximizing the exchange of both practical and theoretical information.
The course is designed to provide the student with an analytical framework for approaching appropriations issues. Topics addressed include the availability of appropriations as to purpose, amount and time, the necessary expense rule, the Antideficiency Act, augmentation, the bona fide needs rule, and multi-year contracting.
This course refers to the same body of case law published in GAO's "Principles of Federal Appropriations Law" (commonly referred to as the "Red Book"), and is a useful companion to the Red Book.
