The other two-thirds of the federal budget is referred to as mandatory spending. These are programs, primarily entitlement programs, which Congress controls by setting out eligibility rules or other payment guidelines. Examples are Food Stamps and Social Security. Thus, the appropriations process is basically automatic. The numbers given in the budget every year are estimates based on the eligibility or payment rules.

The annual budget process comprises a series of steps visible to the public:

This proposal actually follows a lengthy preparation process which is not very visible to the public yet largely determines the priorities of the budget.

Initially, the President and Cabinet decide policy priorities. Based on these priorities, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), which is part of the Executive Branch, gives guidelines to federal agencies instructing them how to prepare their strategic plans and budgets. The agencies then submit their budget requests and write documents defending their budget requests. These budget documents are also submitted to the appropriations committee of the House and Senate.

The OMB evaluates these documents and prepares the budget request (the President's Budget).

The President's Budget comes out in six thick volumes including:

• Budget of the US Government
• Analytical Perspectives
• Historical Tables
• Appendix
• Budget Systems and Concepts
• Citizen's Guide to the Federal Budget

The President's Budget can be viewed on-line and downloaded from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), purchased through the Government Printing Office, and many libraries obtain copies.

Each committee takes the budget requests and justifications submitted by agencies, conducts hearings and does follow-ups with agencies to obtain answers to questions about the agency requests. Based on all of this information, each committee writes a first draft of its appropriation bill. This is called the 'chairman's mark'. The committee then votes on its bill and after passage, it moves back to the appropriations committee. The appropriations committee reviews and sends it to the floor for a vote, attaching any special riders that it deems necessary.

To find out the status and membership of each subcommittee, go to the Senate Appropriations Committee, and the House Appropriations Committee.

Alongside the process of appropriations, there may be one or more pieces of tax or other legislation affecting federal revenues.

You can always obtain the Status of Appropriation Bills. For more information on the legislative process, go to Thomas, which has extensive legislative information on the internet.

If the budget is not enacted by October 1st, Congress must pass "continuing resolutions" in order for the government to continue its functions. These resolutions simply continue funding for agencies and programs at current levels until the budget for the fiscal year is enacted.

• National Priorities Project
• OMB Watch
• Center on Budget and Policy Priorities
• Women's Action for New Directions
• Center for Community Change
• Coalition on Human Needs

Contact your legislators: You can email your House Representative or visit her/his website for further contact information, or visit the website of your Senators. "Snail mail" letters tend to be taken more seriously by representatives and their aides than emails or telephone calls. Even more effective is visiting your representatives. Make an appointment with them if you are visiting Washington, or find out their office hours in the nearest office to your home. This gives you a better opportunity to talk to them about what concerns you have and hear them respond to those concerns. They are elected to serve you.