A government shutdown occurs when a government discontinues providing services that are not considered "essential." Typically, essential services include police, fire fighting, armed forces, and corrections.

A shutdown can occur when a legislative body (including the legislative power of veto by the executive) cannot agree on a budget financing its government programs for a pending fiscal year. In the absence of appropriated funds, the government discontinues providing non-essential services at the beginning of the affected fiscal year. Government employees who provide essential services, often referred to as "essential employees", are required to continue working.

Notable government shutdowns in the United States

Note that in the list of "essential" services above, police and firefighting are largely state and/or locally funded, so are not an issue in federal shutdowns.

• United States Federal government shutdown of 1981
• United States Federal government shutdown of 1984
• United States Federal government shutdown of 1990
• United States Federal government shutdown of 1995, November 14 – November 19, 1995 ^{[1] [2]}
• United States Federal government shutdown of 1995, December 16, 1995 – January 6, 1996 ^[3]
• 2005 Erie County, NY shutdown^[4]
• 2005 Minnesota state shutdown, during the first two weeks of July 2005^[5]
• 2006 Puerto Rico budget crisis
• 2006 New Jersey State Government shutdown
• 2007 Pennsylvania State Government shutdown^[6][7]
• 2007 State of Michigan Government Shutdown (averted three hours after the deadline and caused very little disorder)

External links

• Government Report on Government Shutdowns
• More Government documents on 1995 shutdown

References

1. ↑ Federal shutdown
2. ↑ frontline: the clinton years: nightline transcript: government shutdown battle | PBS
3. ↑ CNN - Government shutdown II - Dec. 18, 1995
4. ↑ BUDGET MESS HITS CULTURAL GROUPS, The Buffalo News, Feb. 7, 2005; COUNTY LEADERS BRACE FOR CLOSINGS, The Buffalo News, Feb. 21, 2005; SERVICES SHUT DOWN AS COUNTY FAILS TO PAY UP, The Buffalo News, Jul. 3, 2005
5. ↑ Minnesota Experiences Unprecedented Government Shutdown Due to Budget Deadlock - July 11, 2005 Vol.6, No.14 - OMB Watch
6. ↑ Pa. State Agencies Back in Operation After Budget Deal Struck
7. ↑ http://www.pennlive.com/news/patriotnews/index.ssf?/base/news/1184382616242591.xml