The major characteristic of this method is that it starts budgeting from the beginning. Thus, each department requesting an appropriation has to justify the very existence of the expenditure request.

该方法的主要特征是它在编制预算时从头开始，也就是说，每一个要求预算拨款的部门都要说明其要求存在的合理性。

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The administration still treats a five-year war as an unforeseen contingency to be paid for by an extra, emergency appropriation outside its regular budget request.

ECONOMIST: Invading Iraq