# Advanced Appropriations Law Course Canonical URL: ## Overview This course builds on the concepts learned in [Federal Appropriations Law (FINC7100A)](/courses/federal-appropriations-law). It will provide you with practice in researching questions on the proper use of government funds and applying your research results to several comprehensive case studies. You will gain confidence in your ability to analyze a situation, perform the necessary research, and correctly apply appropriations law concepts to determine the proper course of action. The course will be conducted with a combination of brief instructor lectures on the principles pertinent to the cases, followed by team review and analysis of the cases. The teams will then report their findings to the entire class for discussion and debate. Participants will be allowed to use any research tools at hand, including GAO's Red Book, GAO's website, and other search engine capabilities. Personal tablets, laptops, or smartphones are encouraged to aid in this research. ## What you'll learn - Provide authoritative guidance to decision makers on the legality of proposed actions. - Use federal appropriations only for the purposes intended. - Observe and adhere to critical time frames of federal appropriations. - Avoid violations of the Antideficiency Act. - Apply appropriations language to a specific situation. - Use a reliable process for researching and making recommendations on the proper use of federal funds. ## Prerequisites Students must complete [Federal Appropriations Law](https://www.graduateschool.edu/courses/federal-appropriations-law) (FINC7100) before enrolling in this course or have equivalent knowledge. ## Curriculum #### Module 1: Appropriations Law Review - Overview of key legal sources: Constitution, Authorization and Appropriations Acts, GAO decisions. - Distinction between fiduciary and pecuniary responsibilities. - Understanding the congressional “Power of the Purse.” - Principles such as Specific vs. General Rule and Reprogramming vs. Transfers. - Case law and administrative discretion in appropriations. #### Module 2: Purpose - Application of 31 U.S.C. 1301 and the Necessary Expense Doctrine. - Specific rules regarding food, gifts, clothing, and travel. - Evaluation of purpose-related expenditures and proper classification. - Multiple case studies analyzing conference expenditures and violations. - Hands-on classification exercise: legal, wasteful, improper, ADA violations. #### Module 3: Government Charge Cards - OMB Circular A-123 guidelines and GAO implications. - Proper and improper use of government purchase cards. - Certifying officer liability and good faith exceptions. - Case analysis: food expenditures, fraud, personal purchases, pandemic supplies. #### Module 4: Time - Bona Fide Needs Rule and appropriation life cycles (unexpired, expired, canceled). - Service contract rules: severable vs. non-severable. - Interagency agreements and use of Economy Act orders. - Case studies covering invoices, ratifications, contract modifications, leases. #### Module 5: Amount - Understanding the Antideficiency Act and miscellaneous receipts statute. - Identifying and reporting ADA violations. - Evaluating amount-based misuse through real-world case scenarios. - Topics include insurance, employment, lease obligations, and unauthorized contracts. #### Module 6: Inbox Exercise - Scenario-based application of purpose, time, and amount principles. - Participants evaluate appropriateness and legality of financial actions. - Scenarios include: Combined Federal Campaign costs, escrow accounts, smartphone use, ADA infractions. ## Schedule - Aug 19, 2026 – Aug 21, 2026 — Live Online - Sep 28, 2026 – Sep 30, 2026 — Live Online - Nov 18, 2026 – Nov 20, 2026 — Live Online ## Instructors ### Alan B. Robinson — Instructor Mr. Robinson is a seasoned legal and federal employment expert with over two decades of experience. He recently retired from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, where he spent 11 years as Deputy Director/Director for the Office of Outreach, Diversity, and Equal Opportunity (ODEO) and 8 years as Chief of Employee and Labor Relations. In these roles, he provided extensive guidance on federal employment matters, showcasing his deep expertise in labor relations and diversity initiatives. A graduate of the University of Virginia with a B.A. in Government, Mr. Robinson earned his Juris Doctorate from the University of Maryland School of Law. He is licensed to practice law in Maryland and the District of Columbia. Before his federal service, he built a robust legal career, starting as a law clerk for the Baltimore City Orphan’s Court, followed by 10 years as a civil defense litigator with a D.C. law firm, and later operating his own solo practice for 5 years. His private practice focused on representing federal agencies, employees, municipalities, and private entities in employment-related cases before the EEOC, Merit Systems Protection Board, and various courts. Currently, Mr. Robinson shares his wealth of knowledge as an adjunct instructor with the Graduate School USA and serves as a registered arbitrator for the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA). His extensive background in law, federal employment, and diversity makes him a valuable resource in his field. ### Kent Miller — Instructor Kent D. Miller, Jr., MBA, CDFM-A, is a highly accomplished financial management expert and educator with over 40 years of experience in both the public and private sectors. A retired U.S. Army officer, Kent has held leadership roles such as Controller/CFO for the U.S. Army Missile Command and Program Manager/Financial Analyst for the Assistant Secretary of the Army. His expertise spans budgeting, cost analysis, managerial accounting, and financial systems implementation. Notably, he managed a $9 billion organization, supervised a financial staff of 150, and developed funding requirements and congressional testimony for senior Army leadership. Kent’s career also includes consulting and training, where he has developed over 50 courses and taught more than 20,000 students from federal agencies and contractors. As an adjunct instructor at Graduate School USA since 2005, Kent specializes in financial management training for federal employees. His courses cover a wide range of topics, including appropriations law, budget formulation and execution, and performance-based budgeting. Kent’s teaching is informed by his extensive experience in planning, programming, and budgeting, as well as his work in reengineering processes to achieve cost savings. He is also a Certified Defense Financial Manager with Acquisition Specialty (CDFM-A) and has been recognized for his leadership in professional organizations such as the Society of Defense Financial Management and the Association of Government Accountants. ### Alan McCain — Curriculum Program Manager Alan McCain is a retired combat veteran who served as both an Air Force enlisted member and a Navy officer. He brings over 30 years of experience spanning federal and commercial budgeting, auditing, programming, operations, global logistics support, supply chain and inventory management, as well as major IT acquisition. He possesses extensive, hands-on budget and audit experience across Federal, State, and Local government operations, including work within the Executive Office of the President and the Departments of State, Defense, Homeland Security, Health and Human Services, Housing and Urban Development, and Education, as well as the Office of the Mayor of Washington, D.C., among others. Alan’s consulting background includes strategic planning and business development with the District of Columbia government, multiple federal agencies, Lockheed Martin, KPMG, and PricewaterhouseCoopers. He is a Certified Government/Defense Financial Manager (CGFM/DFM), holds a Teaching Certification from Harvard University’s Bok Center for Teaching and Learning, and earned an Executive MBA in International Business from The George Washington University. ## Pricing **Tuition:** $1199