DEPARTMENT OF POLITICAL SCIENCE

AND

INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

Posc 150

MAKE A NATIONAL BUDGET

Assignment 4

Due May 7, 2002.

Counts Five (5) Percent or Five Points

Name (printed) _________________________________

Student number _________________________________

Suppose you were the leader of a strong disciplined political party in United States and had to propose a budget for the federal government for the next year. For now don't worry about dollar amounts. If the total budget must add to 100 percent, what portion or percent would you propose allocating to each of these categories? Think realistically but also be true to your values. Do what you think is right for the country. Consider what you believe are its needs and the allocate percentages to the budget. There is, of course, no right or wrong answer. And if you are not sure just make a rough estimate. But the total of your percentages should add to 100 because you can't spend more than you have but want to use what you've been given. (Note: the federal government can and frequently does spend more than it takes in. But let us assime that's not possible.)

Okay, what percent would you spend for (look at all the items on the list before deciding):

National defense____________________

Education____________________

Natural resources and the environment____________________

Social security____________________

Medicare____________________

Administration of justice____________________

Science, space, and technology____________________

Health____________________

Other (what if any thing?)____________________ ______

Other (what if any thing?)____________________ ______

Other (what if any thing?)____________________ ______

Total (should add to 100%_______________

Now you can see the actual allocations in the federal budget. Go to "Where the Money Comes From And Where it Goes."

Find Table 2-3, Total Spending by Function. IMPORTANT: USE THE FIGURES IN THE THE 2002 COLUMN. THE TOTAL EXPENDITURES IS $1,961 BILLION OR ABOUT $1.9 TRILLION DOLLARS. GET THE RIGHT COLUMN. When asked for percent calculate how much of the total federal budget ($1,961 trillion) is spent for the items listed.

How much in dollars is spent for National defense____________________ That's what percent? _____________

How much in dollars is spent for Education, training, employment, and social services____________________ That's what percent? _____________

How much in dollars is spent for Natural resources and environment____________________ That's what percent? _____________

How much in dollars is spent for Social security____________________ That's what percent? _____________

How much in dollars is spent for Medicare____________________ That's what percent? _____________

How much in dollars is spent for Administration of justice____________________ That's what percent? _____________

How much in dollars is spent for General science, space, and technology____________________ That's what percent? _____________

How much in dollars is spent for Health____________________ That's what percent? _____________

Note for future reference: the categories "Social security," "Medicare," and part of "Health" are off limits to Congress. they are called entitlements, which means that spending on them is more or less "uncontrollable." See " Entilement" in the budget glossary. The other categories are called "discretionary" spending lines, which means Congress has some control (but practically speaking less than you might think) over the amounts.

How much and what percent of 2002 outlays go to entitlements?

$______________ and _________%

Briefly, do federal expenditures (they're called "outlays") agree with your preferences? Do any of the amounts surprise you?










Due May 7, 2002. No exceptions

Work alone.

Go to American Political System page

Go to H. T. Reynolds page