Discretionary spending is government spending that:A.is not approved by Congress.B.uses up a surplus.C.creates a deficit.D.is not required by law.

Discretionary spending is government spending that: D. is not required by law.

Here's a step-by-step explanation:

1. Discretionary spending refers to the portion of the budget that the government can adjust on a yearly basis. It's the part of the U.S. Federal Budget that Congress appropriates each year.

2. This is in contrast to mandatory spending, which is spending on programs that are required by law, such as Social Security and Medicare.

3. Therefore, discretionary spending is spending that is not required by law. It's the part of the budget that the government has more control over and can decide how to allocate each year.

4. So, the correct answer to your question is D. "Discretionary spending is government spending that is not required by law."