The key means of advancing modern legislation is now the budget process (a process whereby future income/expenditure are decided in order to streamline the expenditure process). Important activities in the budgeting process include monitoring, controlling and evaluating the financial goals. The budget process became the vehicle for creating comprehensive policy changes. In the 1990s, it became the common problem-solving mechanism in the legislature. The greatly expanded power/influence of the parties leadership over the control of bills is an important characteristic feature of modern legislating.