ABSTRACT
Budgeting was the largest component of congressional activity. The White House and executive agencies must monitor each stage of legislative budgeting. Not only do executive officials have to appear at numerous hearings by the various committees involved in congressional budgeting, they also must operate behind the scenes to influence legislative outcomes. The triplication of congressional budget processes offers a tempting target for reformers who seek to simplify budgeting. The budget also claims a great deal of presidential attention. In addition to the budget submitted early in each congressional session, the president is required to issue updated estimates in the spring and summer. One reason for the heavy workload is that the budget requires repeated legislative attention. The defense budget is a case in point. In 1982, Congress allotted $254 billion in new budget authority to national defense in its fiscal 1983 budget resolution.
