Final answer:
The statement is true: appropriations are presumed to be annual unless specified otherwise by the appropriation act. Appropriations are the legal authorization to spend from the public treasury, and they are typically aligned with the fiscal year for regular assessment and control. Special appropriations that extend beyond one year must be indicated in the appropriation acts.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement that all appropriations are presumed to be annual appropriations unless the appropriation act expressly provides otherwise is generally true. Appropriations refer to the legal authorization by the legislature for a government to spend money from the public treasury for a specific purpose. By default, these appropriations are set on an annual basis to match the fiscal year, which allows for regular review and adjustment as necessary. This process is a critical aspect of fiscal responsibility and budgetary control.
In the United States, for instance, no money shall be drawn from the Treasury but in consequence of appropriations made by law, which underscores the importance of following due legislative processes for public spending. Moreover, the federal budget process involves the President submitting a proposed budget, which kick-starts a complex negotiation and adjustment phase with Congress to finalize appropriations.
It's important to note that there can be multi-year appropriations or even no-year appropriations, known as 'continuing appropriations,' which do not expire at the end of the fiscal year. These are not assumed and must be expressly stated in the appropriation acts. Hence, unless specified otherwise, the assumption of annual appropriations stands.