The just concluded and longest government shutdown in US history captured and captivated many. While to the regular person, the shutdown was merely the result of Republicans and Democrats sticking their tongues out at each other, the truth is, it is much more complex and a part of an effective system of checks and balances.

In a regular US Federal budget process, it is the responsibility of Congress to appropriate funding by September 30th to cover the following fiscal year. This of course does not happen all the time for a variety of reasons forcing Congress to enact what is called a continuing funding resolution.

It is in the event of disagreements over the enactment of a continuing funding resolution that a shutdown will occur. A shutdown will occur because when Congress fails to appropriate the necessary funds, a lapse occurs and triggers the suspension of some non-essential discretionary services.

While disagreements over funding may be political, a shutdown is actually not always a bad thing. It is an illustration of a functioning system that is constitutionally mandated to oversee government operations as well as provide oversight within its different branches.

There are of course unpleasant outcomes and negative impacts to life for furloughed workers and those who due to the nature of their jobs have to work without pay. The big picture is however a system that may on rare occasions have negative impacts but in the long run provides for safety nets and an effective way of preventing any of the government branches from overstepping its boundaries.

In essence I am saying; it may prevent one good thing from happening but at the same time block many bad things. Have an executive day, won't you?