Bid Protests, Appropriations Law, & Other Legal Work
Appropriations Law Forum
Overview
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.
Prior Forums
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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)
GAO 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)
GAO 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)
The 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)
The 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)
The 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.
