The Budget Process

Published: October 17, 2016

This video presents a major component of fiscal policy: the complexity of the budget process. In recent years Congress’ lengthy budget debates, characterized by a strong difference of opinion between the House and the Senate, have been eventually resolved in a democratic process. Although the uncertainty in the process is a concern to fiscal policy, this video presents a clear timeline of how important the nature of the budget process is to the economy.

Discussion Question

1. Do policymakers have a responsibility to come to an agreement on a budget by October1? Furthermore, do policymakers have a responsibility to thwart a government shutdown—like the one that occurred in 2014?
   •  Affirmative argument: The public elects officials to run the government and as a result they have a moral responsibility to the people to prevent the government from shutting down.
   • Negative argument: The public elects officials to run the government according to the interests of their constituents, even if that means using a government shutdown as a political ploy by which they achieve their agenda.