Now that the sequester has taken effect, there’s a new phrase that keeps popping up in Washington: the “continuing resolution.” If Congress doesn’t pass a continuing resolution by March 27, the government will run out of money and will likely shut down. Here’s a list of four things you might want to know about how a continuing resolution works and how it might soften the blow of the sequester.
1. Exactly what is a “continuing resolution”?
The continuing resolution, or CR for short, is legislation that basically allows Congress to just carry over the previous fiscal year’s budget into the next one. In other words, it permits Congress to maintain roughly the same budget priorities and budget levels over the subsequent year. A CR can last for any length of time, whatever Congress wants — a few weeks, six months, a year, anything.
READ MORE: Four Things To Know About The Next Big Budget Battle : It’s All Politics : NPR.