Budget Me Elmo
Budget of the U.S. government for the fiscal year of 2022, by agency (in million U.S. dollars)
Critical Analysis
According to the insanely beautiful chart above, what US Government department or agency has the largest budget for Fiscal Year 2022?
According to the data above, what is the 2022 budget allotment for the Social Security Administration (write it out in digits):
When you think about where the largest portion of American tax money goes, what is the big story this data tells?
Every year, Congress begins work on a federal budget for the next fiscal year. Federal agencies create budget requests and submit them to the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) - the agency that develops the president’s budget proposal. The president submits his budget proposal to Congress early the next year. Then Congress, which the Constitution puts in charge of spending and borrowing, starts its work on the next budget. How is the budgetary process an example of checks and balances?
Let’s say that you wanted to influence the budgetary process as much as possible. What would be the most efficacious first step to take to wield the most influence?
The department with the highest budget is the Department of Health and Human Services ($1.6 TRILLION!!!) What exactly is all this money going for?
In the budget for Fiscal Year 2022 the Department of Defense (fights wars) gets 729 BILLION dollars while the Department of State (prevents wars) gets 33 BILLION dollars. Explain whether you believe that is a good ratio of spending.
I like the defense department. I do not want the U.S. to be invaded by Canada, Jamaica, or North Korea. At the same time, I like the environment, and the Defense Department budget is over 100 times larger than the budget of the Environmental Protection Agency. Explain what you would like the ratio on military protection versus environmental protection to be in the ideal world.
If you could change the budgetary spending in on way, what would you change?
Wow, look at the specifics of the Homeland Security budget (below)* from two years ago. What most surprised you about that information (see below)?
Learning Extension
Learn about the U.S. government’s budgetary process.
Action Extension
Remix the U.S. budget as you see fit. Share your new budget outline with the White House.
Visual Extension *
Get AP exam-ready with diagnostic tests, online review games, test review sheets, practice quizzes, full-length practice exam, and self-guided writing workshops. We'll make studying a breeze.
