DISCRETIONARY SPENDING Definition

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DISCRETIONARY SPENDING consists of US government expenditures that are set on an annual basis. It is a budget that members of Congress can adjust on a yearly basis. Examples of discretionary spending in the United States:

-defense budget
-education
-Environmental Protection Agency
-Department of Veterans Affairs

When looking to cut costs, lawmakers usually look to trimming discretionary spending. See MANDATORY SPENDING.

Learn new Accounting Terms

DEBIT RECORD (DR) is an entry in a double-entry bookkeeping system recording an increase in an asset or an expense, or a decrease in liability, or owners equity item. Debit entries are conventionally made on the left-hand side of T accounts.

CONTROL POLICIES AND PROCEDURES are the policies and procedures that help ensure management directives are carried out. Those pertinent to an audit include performance reviews, information processing, physical controls and segregation of duties.

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