A continuing resolution (CR) is legislation Congress passes to temporarily fund government agencies at their previous spending levels when the regular appropriations process hasn't been completed by October 1. CRs typically last weeks or months and maintain the status quo — agencies can't start new programs or dramatically shift spending. Heavy reliance on CRs creates governing uncertainty and is widely criticized by budget experts as a sign of congressional dysfunction. The federal government has operated under CRs for most of the past three decades.