What is the term used when the amount available for obligation is a negative number?

• A. Allocate funds
• B. Under allocate funds
• C. Obligate the government
• D. Over obligate the government

Answer: (D)

Over-obligation is the situation described when the amount available for obligation is negative. It means that the total commitments have surpassed the budgetary authority or appropriations, so funds have been obligated beyond what is legally available. This exact condition is what “over-obligate” conveys—you’ve committed more than you have to spend, triggering the need for corrective action to bring obligations back within limits.

Allocating funds is about setting aside money that is available, which wouldn’t produce a negative balance. Under-allocating would leave more funds than needed. Simply obligating the government is a general action and doesn’t capture the problem of commitments exceeding available funds.