Distribution of an amount available for obligation and/or commitment into amounts available for specified time periods, activities, projects, or combinations as approved by OMB and the agency is called what?

• A. Apportionment
• B. Reapportionment
• C. Authorization
• D. Allocation

Answer: (A)

Apportionment is the process of distributing amounts available for obligation into specified time periods, activities, or projects as approved by the Office of Management and Budget and the agency. This division turns a total appropriation into actionable slices, ensuring obligations occur within the right timeframe and align with program priorities. For example, an annual appropriation might be split into quarterly allotments or allocated among major programs, with the split approved by OMB and the agency. Reapportionment would involve adjusting those shares later if needs change, while authorization is the legal authority to incur obligations, and allocation is a broader term for distributing funds within an appropriation.