CHAPTER 3. BUDGET SYSTEMS AND EXPENDITURE CLASSIFICATION
A. APPROACHES TO BUDGETING
Different countries have taken different approaches to, and several traditions
exist, each with its specific features consistent with the overall administrative “culture.”
The following should be read with this basic consideration in mind, although it is
intended to describe generally valid principles and common ground.
1. Nature of legislative authorizations
a. Basis of appropriations
The nature of the authorization granted by the legislature depends both on the
budget system and on the nature of the expenditure. Although there are exceptions
(notably “permanent authorizations”), these authorizations are granted through
appropriations, which are specific authorizations enabling the government and its
agencies to spend money. The legal basis for appropriations is normally provided in
statutory law. Such law should, however, avoid excessive detail, and procedural
guidance should be provided by administrative law in order to permit incremented
reform.