A Continuing Resolution (CR) is a temporary funding measure that Congress can use to fund the federal government for a limited amount of time when final appropriations have not been approved by Congress and the President. CRs are temporary spending bills that allow federal government operations to continue when final appropriations have not been approved by Congress and the President. Without final appropriations or a continuing resolution, there could be a lapse in funding that results in a government shutdown. CRs generally continue the level of funding from the prior year’s appropriations or the previously approved CR from the current year. Full-year CRs provide appropriations for the remainder of the fiscal year and are functionally similar to final appropriations. A CR can include changes from the prior year’s budget that could alter the rate at which funds are utilized, extend an expiring program authority, or provide a specific dollar amount of funding to a program during the CR. Congress passes a CR any time that they do not reach agreement on the spending levels and enact regular appropriations by the start of the federal fiscal year in October. Lawmakers often enact multiple CRs in a single fiscal year before deciding on full-year funding levels.