ABSTRACT
Federal spending in recent years has approached $3 trillion annually.1 The process by which the federal government develops and approves its budget involves many players (see Box 8.1). In the Congress, in particular, the process of budget approval is complex and authority on budget matters is spread widely. No single document is adequate to fully describe an operation of the size of the federal government. The president’s budget alone in recent years has consisted of multiple volumes, each offering a variety of perspectives on spending and revenue. The main focus of the budget’s format, however, is on agencies, programs, and functions.
