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Continuing Resolution
The U.S. federal government's budget (fiscal) year begins on the first day of October. All agencies and programs that require annual funding must have been appropriated funds by the start of the fiscal year to continue to operate. If an appropriations bill for a specific agency or program is not passed by the start of the fiscal year, Congress may pass a stopgap appropriations act known as a continuing resolution, which must be signed by the President to take effect. While continuing resolutions do prevent the shutdown of government operations and are generally short-term in nature, they may also be somewhat restrictive and may prevent affected agencies and programs from moving forward.