The basic forms of budget authority are; appropriation_request, authority to borrow, contract authority, and authority to obligate and expend offsetting receipts and collections. The period of time during which Congress makes funds available may bespecified as one-year, multiple years or no year. The available amount may beclassified as either definite or indefinite; a specific amount or anunspecified amount can be made available. Authority may also be classified ascurrent or permanent. Permanent authority requires no current action byCongress.