The Founders in their usual brilliance placed the power of the purse in the House, whose members must face election every two years – for if they become profligate with this power the voters can throw them out within months (24 max) rather than wait years (6) like the Senate.

Article I, Section 7, Clause 1 of the U.S. Constitution is known as the origination clause because it provides that “All Bills for raising Revenue shall originate in the House of Representatives.”

Without funding, no program created by the Congress has any power.

All appropriation bills authorizing any branch of the Federal Government to spend any money for any program must be initiated in, and passed by, a majority of the House. The Senate can only agree or disagree. The same goes for the President.

“The Supreme Court has occasionally ruled on origination clause matters, adopting a definition of revenue bills that is based on two central principles that tend to narrow its application to fewer classes of legislation than the House: (1) raising money must be the primary purpose of the measure, rather than an incidental effect; and (2) the resulting funds must be for the expenses or obligations of the government generally, rather than a single, specific purpose.” – The Origination Clause of the U.S. Constitution: Interpretation and Enforcement. Congressional Research Service (2002)

“The House of Representatives cannot only refuse, but they alone can propose the supplies requisite for the support of government. They, in a word, hold the purse …. This power over the purse may, in fact, be regarded as the most complete and effective weapon with which any constitution can arm the immediate representatives of the people…” – Federalist No. 58 (attributed to Madison)