And many budget decisions are made year by year, through enactment of annual appropriations bills. Other legislation covers multi-year periods, requiring periodic renewal. Under the practices that have evolved, some tax and spending legislation is permanent - unless and until changed, which it often is. The Constitution makes clear that Congress holds the power of the purse, giving it authority “to lay and collect Taxes, Duties, Imposts and Excises,” and specifying that “No Money shall be drawn from the Treasury, but in Consequence of Appropriations made by law.” In short, federal taxing and spending requires legislation that is enacted into law. Rather, Congress makes spending and tax decisions through a variety of legislative actions in ways that have evolved over more than two centuries.
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