According to the Anti-Deficiency Act, no Government officer or employee may obligate funds in excess of available appropriations without what?

The Anti-Deficiency Act is a crucial piece of legislation that helps ensure proper fiscal management within the federal government. It prohibits government officers and employees from obligating or expending funds in a manner that exceeds what has been appropriated by Congress.

The correct answer stems from the requirement that any obligation of funds beyond available appropriations must have a legal basis provided by law. This means that a government official can only exceed the available budget if there is specific authorization provided by legislation that permits such action. This legal authorization serves as a safeguard to prevent overspending and ensures that financial resources are managed responsibly and legally.

In this context, the emphasis is on the necessity for an established legal framework to safeguard against unauthorized expenditures. Other options do not encapsulate this fundamental requirement of the Anti-Deficiency Act—government approval and reviews, while potentially important in other contexts, do not fulfill the requirement for legal authorization specified by the Act. Similarly, a signed contract alone does not confer the necessary legal authority to exceed appropriations. Therefore, only the option that identifies the need for a specific authorization by law aligns with the stipulations of the Anti-Deficiency Act.