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        Other Legal WorkOverview

GAO’s Office of General Counsel hosts an annual appropriations law forum for federal lawyers who practice appropriations or fiscal law. Attendance is by invitation only. At the forum, GAO discusses decisions and opinions issued over the last year. Forums usually also feature panels and presentations on issues of general import in appropriations law.

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                    2023 Appropriations Law ForumGAO held its annual Appropriations Law Forum on September 12, 2023. The session included an overview of decisions issued from June 2022 to August 2023, and discussions on the debt ceiling; the miscellaneous receipts statute; the application of the purpose statute; and an executive branch counsel panel on interagency agreements.
      
      2023 Appropriations Law Forum MaterialsPublished:  Sep 12, 2023



  2022 Appropriations Law ForumGAO held its annual Appropriations Law Forum on June 8, 2022. The session included an overview of decisions issued in 2021 and 2022, and discussions on the Impoundment Control Act; the Antideficiency Act; the application of the *bona fide* needs rule; an update on the Power of the Purse Act; and an executive branch counsel panel on telework and other expenses in the post-COVID-19 hybrid work environment.
      
      2022 Appropriations Law Forum MaterialsPublished:  Jun 07, 2022



  2021 Appropriations Law ForumGAO held its annual Appropriations Law Forum on June 30, 2021.  The session included an overview of decisions issued in 2020 and 2021, and discussions on the Impoundment Control Act, including the pause of border barrier construction and obligations; earmarks and reprogrammings; the Power of the Purse Act; interagency and other transactions; and personal expenses in the time of COVID-19.
      
      2021 Appropriations Law Forum MaterialsPublished:  Jun 30, 2021



  2020 Appropriations Law ForumGAO held its annual Appropriations Law Forum on September 29, 2020. The session included an overview of decisions issued in 2019 and 2020, and discussions on the Impoundment Control Act and withholding of Ukraine security assistance; Department of Defense appropriations for border fencing; changes to Antideficiency Act reporting; anti-lobbying, publicity, and propaganda restrictions; and agency activity during the fiscal year 2019 lapse in appropriations.
      
      2020 Appropriations Law Forum MaterialsPublished:  Oct 13, 2020



  2019 Appropriations Law ForumGAO held its annual Appropriations Law Forum on June 6, 2019. The session included an overview of significant decisions and opinions issued in 2018, and discussions on the Impoundment Control Act; the Government-Wide Inventory of Accounts with Spending Authority and Permanent Appropriations, Fiscal Years 1995 to 2015; statutory notification requirements and agency communications; and lapse in appropriations and the government shutdown.
      
      2019 Appropriations Law Forum MaterialsPublished:  Jun 06, 2019


	Publicly Released: Jun 06, 2019



  2018 Appropriations Law ForumGAO held its annual Appropriations Law Forum on March 8, 2018. The session included an overview of significant decisions and opinions issued in 2017 and a discussion of disaster relief funding, fiscal law considerations related to telework and agency communications, and the Impoundment Control Act.
      
      2018 Appropriations Law Forum MaterialsPublished:  Mar 08, 2018



  2017 Appropriations Law ForumGAO held its annual Appropriations Law Forum on March 9, 2017. The session included an overview of significant decisions and opinions issued in 2016 and a discussion of continuing resolutions.
      
      2017 Appropriations Law Forum MaterialsPublished:  Mar 09, 2017



  2016 Appropriations Law ForumGAO held its annual Appropriations Law Forum on March 10, 2016, to coincide with the publication of chapters 1 and 2 of the fourth edition of Principles of Federal Appropriations Law. The session included an overview of significant decisions and opinions issued in 2015.
      
      2016 Appropriations Law Forum MaterialsPublished:  Mar 10, 2016
              Principles of Federal Appropriations Law: Fourth Edition, Chapter 1GAO-16-463SP
      
	Published:  Mar 10, 2016
              Principles of Federal Appropriations Law: Fourth Edition, Chapter 2GAO-16-464SP
      
	Published:  Mar 10, 2016



  2015 Appropriations Law ForumGAO held its annual Appropriations Law Forum on March 12, 2015, to coincide with the publication of the annual update of the third edition of Principles of Federal Appropriations Law. The session included an overview of significant decisions issued in 2014, with panel discussions on (1) donations, gifts, and free services and (2) a legal opinion regarding the obligation of military bonuses.
      
      2015 Appropriations Law Forum MaterialsPublished:  Mar 12, 2015



  2014 Appropriations Law ForumGAO held its annual Appropriations Law Forum on March 13, 2014 to coincide with the publication of the annual update of the Third Edition of *Principles of Federal Appropriations Law*. The session included an overview of recent significant decisions and opinions.
      
      2014 Appropriations Law Forum MaterialsPublished:  Mar 13, 2014
              Principles of Federal Appropriations Law: Annual Update of the Third EditionGAO-14-163SP
      
	Published:  Mar 13, 2014



  2013 Appropriations Law ForumGAO held its annual Appropriations Law Forum on March 7, 2013 to coincide with the publication of the annual update of the Third Edition of *Principles of Federal Appropriations Law*. The session included an overview of significant decisions issued in 2012, with separate discussions of a case study on the impact of appropriations provisions, as well as public–private partnerships. Material handed out at the Forum is available here.
      
      2013 Appropriations Law Forum MaterialsPublished:  Mar 07, 2013
              Principles of Federal Appropriations Law: Annual Update of the Third EditionGAO-13-273SP
      
	Published:  Mar 07, 2013



  2012 Appropriations Law ForumGAO held its annual Appropriations Law Forum on March 8, 2012 to coincide with the publication of the annual update of the Third Edition of *Principles of Federal Appropriations Law*. The session included an overview of significant decisions issued in 2011, with separate discussions of a case study of the impact of appropriations prohibitions, a different perspective on appropriations law, and responding to an Antideficiency Act violation. Material handed out at the Forum is available here.
      
      2012 Appropriations Law Forum MaterialsPublished:  Mar 08, 2012
              Principles of Federal Appropriations Law: Annual Update of the Third EditionGAO-12-413SP
      
	Published:  Mar 08, 2012



  2011 Appropriations Law ForumGAO held its annual Appropriations Law Forum on March 10, 2011, to coincide with the publication of the annual update of the Third Edition of *Principles of Federal Appropriations Law*. The session included an overview of significant decisions issued in 2010, with separate discussions of congressional scoring, perspectives on the appropriations legislative process and incremental funding. Material handed out at the Forum is available here.
      
      2011 Appropriations Law Forum MaterialsPublished:  Mar 10, 2011
              Can Your Agency Use Appropriated Funds for Meals and Light Refreshments? (Supersedes 2005 Version)Published:  Mar 10, 2011
              Principles of Federal Appropriations Law: Annual Update of the Third EditionGAO-11-210SP
      
	Published:  Mar 10, 2011


	Publicly Released: Mar 10, 2011



  2010 Appropriations Law ForumGAO held its annual Appropriations Law Forum on March 11, 2010, to coincide with the publication of the annual update of the Third Edition of *Principles of Federal Appropriations Law*. The session included an overview of significant decisions issued in 2009, with separate discussions of perspectives on personal expenses and the intersection of appropriations and contract law.

Appropriations Law Year-In-Review (PDF, 15 pages)


Perspectives on Personal Expenses (PDF, 18 pages)


Intersection of Appropriations and Contract Law (PDF, 26 pages)


Digests of Appropriations Law Decisions and Opinions (January to December 2009) (PDF, 20 pages)
      
      Principles of Federal Appropriations Law: Annual Update of the Third EditionGAO-10-424SP
      
	Published:  Mar 11, 2010


	Publicly Released: Mar 11, 2010



  2009 Appropriations Law ForumGAO held its annual Appropriations Law Forum on March 12, 2009, to coincide with the publication of the annual update of the Third Edition of *Principles of Federal Appropriations Law*. The session included an overview of significant decisions issued in 2008, with separate discussions of personal versus official expenses and appropriations issues for political appointees.

Appropriations Law Year-In-Review (PDF, 14 pages)


Personal Expenses versus Official Expenses (PDF, 22 pages)


Appropriations Issues for Political Appointees (PDF, 192 pages)


Digests of Appropriations Law Decisions and Opinions (January to December 2008) (PDF, 13 pages)
      
      Principles of Federal Appropriations Law: Annual Update of the Third EditionGAO-09-340SP
      
	Published:  Mar 12, 2009


	Publicly Released: Mar 12, 2009



  2008 Appropriations Law ForumGAO held its annual Appropriations Law Forum on March 13, 2008, to coincide with the publication of the annual update of the Third Edition of Volumes I and II of *Principles of Federal Appropriations Law*. The session included an overview of significant decisions issued in 2007, with separate discussions of no-cost contracts and interagency transactions.

Appropriations Law Year-In-Review (PDF, 19 pages)


No-Cost Contracts (PDF, 29 pages)


Interagency Transactions (PDF, 51 pages)


Digests of Appropriations Law Decisions and Opinions (January to December 2007) (PDF, 18 pages)
      
      Principles of Federal Appropriations Law: Annual Update of the Third EditionGAO-08-450SP
      
	Published:  Mar 13, 2008


	Publicly Released: Mar 13, 2008


  2007 Appropriations Law ForumThe GAO held its annual Appropriations Law Forum on March 15, 2007 to coincide with the publication of the annual update of the Third Edition of Volumes I and II of *Principles of Federal Appropriations Law*. The session included an overview of significant decisions issued in 2006, with separate discussions of continuing resolutions and open-ended indemnification clauses.

Appropriations Law Year-In-Review (PDF, 14 pages)


Open-Ended Indemnification Clauses — Issues and Perspectives (PDF, 81 pages)


Continuing Resolutions — Continuing Challenges (PDF, 26 pages)


Digests of Appropriations Law Decisions and Opinions (January to December 2006) (PDF, 25 pages)2006 Appropriations Law ForumThe GAO held its annual Appropriations Law Forum on April 4, 2006 to coincide with the publication of the annual update of the Third Edition of Volume I of *Principles of Federal Appropriations Law*. The session included an overview of significant decisions issued in 2005, with separate discussions of interagency severable services agreements and public/private sponsorships of meeting and conferences.

Appropriations Law Year-In-Review (PDF, 12 pages)


Interagency Severable Services Agreements: Pitfalls and Opportunities (PDF, 15 pages)


Meetings & Conferences: Public/Private Sponsorship (PDF, 9 pages)


Digests of Appropriations Law Decisions and Opinions (January to December 2005) (PDF, 22 pages)2005 Appropriations Law ForumThe GAO held an Appropriations Law Forum on March 10, 2005 to coincide with the publication of the 2004 Update of the Third Edition of Volume I of *Principles of Federal Appropriations Law*. The session included an overview of significant decisions issued in 2004, with separate discussions of interagency transactions and the availability of appropriated funds to purchase food.

Appropriations Law Review (PDF, 7 pages)


Interagency Transactions (PDF, 4 pages)


Circular Letters (PDF, 6 pages)
      
      Digests of Appropriations Law Decisions and Opinions (October 2003 to December 2004)GAO-05-425SP
      
	Published:  Mar 01, 2005


	Publicly Released: Mar 01, 2005
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