A provision of law (not necessarily in an appropriations act) authorizing the expenditure of funds for a specified purpose. Usually, but not always, an appropriation provides budget authority, which is authority provided by law to incur financial obligations that will result in outlays. For purposes of the Antideficiency Act, the term "appropriations" may have a broader meaning. As defined by the Antideficiency Act, it means all new budget authority and balances of budget authority as described in Office of Management and Budget Circular No. A-11, Section 20.4.