ABSTRACT
This chapter examines Congress in reforming the budgetary process from the viewpoint of legislators in a representative assembly. It proposes a radical incremental approach designed to improve the calculating capability of all governmental participants in the budgetary process. A crucial aspect of budgeting is whose preferences are to prevail in disputes about which activities are to be carried on and to what degree, in the light of limited resources. The chapter describes the mechanisms for improving the essential political information on budgeting available to Congress, somewhat at the expense of the Chief Executive, though not without some compensations for him as well. It suggests that Congress sponsor research which, for the first time, would be directly geared to improving its ability to act on appropriations in terms best suited to its limitations and opportunities. The chapter concludes with an exposition and defense of radical incrementalism as a desirable approach to budgeting in the United States.
