nondiscretionary

Nondiscretionary is an adjective describing actions, decisions, or expenditures that are not subject to personal or managerial discretion. Something that is nondiscretionary is required by law, contract, policy, or established rules, and must be carried out or paid regardless of individual judgment or preference.

In budgeting and public finance, nondiscretionary (or non-discretionary) spending refers to items that are automatic or mandated by statute and do not require annual appropriation decisions. Examples commonly cited are entitlement programs and other mandatory expenditures, such as Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, and debt service. These items must be funded according to legal requirements, making them unresponsive to yearly budget choices.

Nondiscretionary considerations also arise in contract and operations contexts. Obligations like legally required payments, base-level contractual duties, or essential compliance activities can be described as nondiscretionary, because they must be fulfilled even if discretionary resources are constrained.

Usage notes: both non-discretionary and nondiscretionary forms are encountered, with preferences varying by style guide. In some contexts, “mandatory” or “entitlement” is used to convey a similar sense of obligation that cannot be easily waived by managers or legislators. The term emphasizes a distinction between obligations that are fixed by rules and those that remain open to judgment or choice.