The congressional budget process is a complex and often contentious procedure that determines how the federal government allocates resources and sets fiscal policy. The process begins with the President submitting a budget proposal to Congress, which then debates and amends the proposal before voting on it. Once approved, the budget is sent back to the President for signing into law.

The process is governed by the Congressional Budget Act of 1974, which established the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) to provide nonpartisan analysis of budgetary issues. The CBO evaluates the budget's impact on the economy and provides forecasts of future spending and revenue. The act also created the House and Senate Budget Committees, which are responsible for drafting the annual budget resolution.

One of the most significant challenges in the congressional budget process is reconciling differences between the House and Senate versions of the budget. To address this challenge, the Budget Act establishes a conference committee made up of members from both chambers to iron out these differences. The final budget agreement must be voted on again by both chambers before being sent to the President for signature. Throughout the process, various interest groups and lobbyists attempt to influence lawmakers' decisions, adding an additional layer of complexity to the already difficult task of crafting a budget that meets the nation's needs while adhering to fiscal constraints.