Final answer:
The authority being described is discretionary budget authority, which allocates legal spending limits 'not to exceed' specific amounts, used notably by the DoD. Congress sets these limits annually, differentiating them from mandatory spending. Budget authority is critical for Congress to control and influence federal agency activities through the allocation of funds.
Step-by-step explanation:
The type of authority being described in the question is an example of budget authority, which is a legal granting of funds by Congress. In the context of the Department of Defense (DoD), this budget authority is often stated as 'not to exceed' a specified amount, indicating that the allocated spending cannot surpass a predetermined limit. Congress establishes these limits annually, making them a form of discretionary spending, as opposed to mandatory spending programs like Social Security or Medicare which are funded based on existing law and do not require annual approval.
Discretionary spending is debated among legislative members, with each arguing for more or less funding for various programs and initiatives. Each fiscal year, discretionary budget authority allows Congress to increase, maintain, or cut spending depending on the needs. The power vested in rational-legal authority allows Congress to allocate government funds, giving them the ability to influence the actions of government agencies by regulating access to resources. For example, the DoD's baseline budget has been subject to increases over the years, with oversight and potential sequestration measures to enforce spending caps, as mandated by the Budget Control Act of 2011 (BCA).
Agencies such as the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Department of Education receive funds through discretionary spending, a significant part of which is authorized by Congress for federal agencies excluding mandatory spending obligations. It is essential to note that emergency supplemental appropriations, often used to fund military operations, can be seen as different from regular budget authority due to their less stringent legislative scrutiny.