appropriation bill

This term is a specialized piece of legal and political jargon used primarily within government and legislative contexts. It refers specifically to the legal mechanism by which a government allocates money for spending, distinguishing it from an authorization bill, which merely permits a program to exist without necessarily providing the funds to run it.

In a political context, the passage of an appropriation bill is often a high-stakes event; failure to pass such legislation can lead to a government shutdown. The term is formal and is typically found in news reports, legal documents, and political science textbooks rather than in casual conversation.