Under the "Separation of Powers" doctrine, who has the final authority on spending by a given agency or program?

The correct answer is Congress, as this aligns with the principles of the "Separation of Powers" doctrine established in the United States Constitution. According to this doctrine, Congress holds the power of the purse, meaning that it is responsible for making decisions about federal expenditures. This authority is rooted in Article I of the Constitution, which grants Congress the exclusive power to lay and collect taxes and to allocate funding for government operations and programs.

Congress exercises this authority through the budgeting and appropriations process, where it must pass spending bills that allocate funds to various agencies and programs. This oversight role is critical because it allows Congress to influence governmental priorities and hold agencies accountable for their use of public funds. As such, while the President may propose a budget, it is ultimately Congress that has the final say in approving or denying funding for various governmental functions.

The other options do not hold the same level of authority regarding spending. The President can request and advocate for budgetary changes, but without Congressional approval, these requests cannot be enacted. The Supreme Court, on the other hand, interprets legislative matters and addresses disputes but does not directly manage or control budgetary authority. The Federal Budget Office, while focused on statistical and analytical support for budgetary decisions, does not hold