1.   The government is now operating under a temporary measure, or continuing resolution, that expires at the end of next week.

2.   Although the Republican leadership has ordered the negotiators to keep working, they are openly conceding that the government may have to once again contend with a continuing resolution.

3.   Americans are not supposed to be bored about the dramatic conflict in Washington over continuing resolutions on the national budget.

4.   As for a new temporary spending bill, called a continuing resolution, to keep the government operating, the Republicans set a condition.

5.   Because Congress has not passed a continuing resolution to keep the government operating, Democratic lawmakers warned that welfare recipients could soon lose their benefits.

6.   Between these dates, the second continuing resolution will expire.

7.   -- The Senate is expected to approve and send to Clinton the continuing resolution passed last week by the House to avoid a partial shutdown.

8.   A continuing resolution, or temporary spending bill, injects uncertainty into government operations.

9.   A continuing resolution is necessary to keep the government open because the regular spending bills for many departments and agencies have not been enacted.

10.   A short time later, the White House chief of staff, John Podesta, carrying the continuing resolution, left for Athens so President Clinton could sign it.