The Federal Budget: Revised Edition: Politics, Policy, Process [Paperback]

Allen Schick (Author), Felix Lostracco (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0815777256 | ISBN-13: 978-0815777250 | Publication Date: June 2000 | Edition: Revised

The U.S. government takes in and spends almost $2 trillion annually, and setting the budget that guides federal spending is an enormously complex undertaking. The federal budget entails the active participation of the president, key advisers, and many members of Congress, the efforts of thousands of staff in the executive and legislative branches, and the attention of numerous interest groups. It consists of thousands of big and small decisions, complicated rules and procedures, and debate over the composition and amount of public revenue and spending. With so much at stake, it is not surprising that budgeting is often a difficult, conflict-laden process. As big as the budget is, there is never enough money to satisfy all demands. As the budget has grown and become more prominent in U.S. political and economic life, the scope for conflict has expanded. In some years the budget is the centerpiece of the presidents agenda as well as the vehicle for enacting much of Congresss legislative output. This revised and significantly expanded edition of The Federal Budget concerns the politics and processes of federal budgeting and the policies that emerge from them. It describes how budgeting works at each stage of executive and legislative actionfrom preparation of the presidents budget through the appropriation and expenditure of fundsand assesses the impact of budget rules on policy decisions. It explains how the budget was transformed from deficit to surplus over the past five years and discusses various proposals to change the rules. It analyzes the changes in the appropriations process, friction between the president and Congress, and the reliance on omnibus legislation to resolve budgetimpasses. In addition to vital statistics and extracts from important documents, the book also features case studies that dramatize contemporary budgetary politics, providing readers with a " you are there" appreciation of how budgeting decisions are made in Washington.

Editorial Reviews

Review

--This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

About the Author

Allen Schick is a visiting fellow at the Brookings Institution and a professor of public policy at the University of Maryland. Felix LoStracco is a budget issues analyst at the Brookings Institution.

Product Details

• Paperback: 320 pages
• Publisher: Brookings Institution Press; Revised edition (June 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0815777256
• ISBN-13: 978-0815777250
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 7.5 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #150,773 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent overview - also get the poster!, May 22, 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: The Federal Budget: Revised Edition: Politics, Policy, Process (Paperback)

Dr. Schick's book is outstanding. If you use this book in the classroom or teach the congressional or federal budget process, you should also look at the Congressional Operations Poster.

One side of the poster covers the federal budget process, with a flowchart that is very useful when teaching about the federal or congressional budget process. (But don't take my word that the poster is useful - I have seen it hanging in federal agency offices in Washington, DC.) The publisher, TheCapitol.Net, has more information about the poster, and many useful links, on their web site: congressposter.com

Best bet is to buy Dr. Shick's book and the Congressional Operations Poster.

5.0 out of 5 stars This book is really helpful for budget major students., December 28, 2011

By 

Dae Hyun, Kim - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Federal Budget: Politics, Policy, Process (Hardcover)

This book analyzes political and economic aspects of U.S federal budget. We can learn U.S budget institutions and history by reading this book. Professor Schick especially focuses on political aspect and budget process. According to his opinion, politics means change and process means stability+incrementalism. I absolutely agree with his opinion because government budget has two features together. Also, we can learn the general budget cycle and government accounting by reading this book. If you are interested in macro-economic fiscal policy, you just need to read macro-economics textbook(Mankiw or Krugman)together. Good Luck.