In Congress, what’s the difference between a budget resolution, reconciliation and spending bills?

There’s understandable confusion over Capitol Hill lingo discussing the budget process and appropriations/spending process — which are two distinct things.

There’s understandable confusion over Capitol Hill lingo discussing the budget process and appropriations and spending process — which are two distinct things. What’s the difference? So glad you asked. This is the process that Republicans are currently employing to try to pass President Donald Trump’s sweeping agenda. This process does not deal with funding the government and has nothing to do with the March 14 government shutdown deadline. The budget process is broken down into two steps: A budget resolution, which is a non-binding blueprint that outlines fiscal goals but does not carry the force of law. (House and Senate committees are voting on their respective budget resolutions this week.) An identical budget resolution must be adopted by both the House and Senate before Congress can take the critical next step: Advancing legislation to reconcile tax-and-spending laws to meet the goals of the budget resolution. This bill does carry the force of law and is advanced under what’s known as the “reconciliation” process, often referred to as a reconciliation bill. This process typically takes months.