continuing resolution

noun

plural continuing resolutions

US government

: a legislative resolution (see resolution sense 3a) that Congress can enact to provide temporary funding to particular federal programs and activities when an annual appropriations bill has not been approved by the start of the fiscal year : a temporary spending bill that allows some federal government funding to continue at existing levels for a stated period of time until a full budget bill is passed

The continuing resolution that ended the shutdown funds the government at 2025 levels only through Jan. 30.

—Jessica Bowman

Last-minute temporary government funding bills, known as continuing resolutions, have become commonplace in Congress thanks to partisan disagreements over government spending.

—Susan Ferrechio

called also CR

Word History

First Known Use

1912, in the meaning defined above