In the Federal budget, authority provided by law to enter into obligations which will result in immediate or future outlays of government funds, except that it does not include the authority to insure or guarantee the repayment of indebtedness incurred by another person or government. The basic forms of budget authority are: appropriations, contract authority, and borrowing authority. Budget authority is classified by the timing of Congressional action (current or permanent) ; or by the manner of determining the amount available (definite or indefinite).