Which action would constitute a violation of the Anti-deficiency Act?

Which action would constitute a violation of the Anti-deficiency Act?

• A. Obligation in excess of available funds.
• B. Appropriation within available funds.
• C. Expenditure in excess of available funds.
• D. Accepting voluntary services.

Answer: (C)

The situation tested is about the government not spending beyond what Congress has authorized. The Anti-deficiency Act prohibits any obligation or payment that exceeds the amount available in the appropriation. When funds are actually disbursed in an amount greater than what the appropriation provides, that is a direct violation because it uses money that isn’t legally available. So expenditure in excess of available funds is the clearest, most straightforward breach of the Act in this context. Appropriation within available funds is proper, and accepting voluntary services isn’t a prohibited expenditure if there’s no payment involved. (Obligation in excess of available funds is also illegal in general, but the act most clearly violated by a direct payment beyond the budgeted amount is the expenditure beyond available funds.)

The situation tested is about the government not spending beyond what Congress has authorized. The Anti-deficiency Act prohibits any obligation or payment that exceeds the amount available in the appropriation. When funds are actually disbursed in an amount greater than what the appropriation provides, that is a direct violation because it uses money that isn’t legally available. So expenditure in excess of available funds is the clearest, most straightforward breach of the Act in this context. Appropriation within available funds is proper, and accepting voluntary services isn’t a prohibited expenditure if there’s no payment involved. (Obligation in excess of available funds is also illegal in general, but the act most clearly violated by a direct payment beyond the budgeted amount is the expenditure beyond available funds.)