Commitment Control is a specific aspect of budget execution that draws reference to mechanisms and actions that ensure that transactions are fully funded prior to their authorization. It acts as a link between cash/exchequer management, procurement and asset/liability management, and it plays a critical role in limiting the risk of pending bills. It should be seen as an implementation control that supports two planning and budgeting controls established in law and practice. First, there can be no public spending outside a planning framework (planning discipline). Second, there can be no spending beyond revenue and debt-raising capacity and without limit (fiscal discipline). Commitment control is about not making purchase or payment commitments where funds are not confirmed. The use of vote books (for positing commitments, thus reducing available budget lines) is a traditionally common form of commitment control.
Linkages
Upstream: Budget Estimates, Budget Appropriation, Budget Implementation Circular, Work Plan, Procurement Plan, Cash Flow Forecast
Downstream: Procurement, Asset and Liability Management, Quarterly Reports
