Final answer:
Disbursing officers or certifying officers receive guidance on the propriety of payments from the principal officers of the relevant executive departments. This is to ensure compliance with laws and proper use of appropriated funds. Such opinions protect officers from liability and ensure lawful expenditure.
Step-by-step explanation:
A disbursing officer or a certifying officer seeking advance decisions on the propriety of certifying payments or making payments using appropriated funds may receive guidance from the principal officer in the executive departments responsible for the management and budget of those funds. The officers ensure administrative decisions are made in accordance with applicable laws and within the bounds of available appropriations. The request for an advance decision usually arises when there are uncertainties or complexities concerning the legality or appropriateness of a payment, and it seeks to protect disbursing and certifying officers from liability.
These written opinions form part of a system of checks and balances within the government's financial management structure. Furthermore, the issuance of this guidance ensures that the use of public funds complies with legislative mandatates and does not inadvertently lead to unlawful expenditure.