Benefits are paid to everyone who meets eligibility rules written in permanent law, regardless of the total cost that year. How is this spending classified?

Congress funds National Park Service operations through an annual appropriations act. What type of federal spending is this?

Medicare Part A hospital insurance benefits are authorized by permanent law for eligible people. How are these federal outlays generally classified?

An agency receives a specified amount from Congress for one fiscal year, and Congress must approve a new amount next year. What kind of spending is involved?

SNAP food benefits are provided under eligibility rules in federal law, so total spending changes with the number of qualifying households. How is this classified?

A cost-of-living adjustment required by Social Security law raises benefit checks without a new annual appropriation. What type of spending rises?

Which action normally begins the formal federal budget process?

Before the President sends a budget request to Congress, which executive office reviews agency funding requests and helps prepare that request?

Each year, Congress may adopt a budget resolution. What does this resolution mainly establish?

After receiving the President's request, which congressional committees write the regular bills that provide annual funding for agencies?

Congress has passed an appropriations bill for agency operations. What normally has to happen next for the bill to become law?

In a typical recent federal budget, which single program has the largest outlays?

Which major federal program primarily provides health insurance for people age 65 or older and certain younger people with disabilities?

Federal spending that helps states provide health coverage to eligible low-income people is chiefly associated with which program?

Which federal outlay category covers the government's cost of borrowing through Treasury securities held by the public?

Which spending category pays for military personnel, operations, and equipment?

Use the illustrative 2023 outlays table. Which category belongs in the blank row?

Use the illustrative 2023 outlays table. Which category belongs in the blank row?

Use the illustrative 2023 outlays table. Which category belongs in the blank row?

Use the illustrative 2023 outlays table. Which category belongs in the blank row?

Use the illustrative 2023 outlays table. Which category belongs in the blank row?

A larger share of the population reaches retirement age while Social Security and Medicare eligibility rules stay the same. What happens to these mandatory outlays?

Federal debt increases while interest rates and the average rate paid on the debt stay unchanged. What happens to net interest outlays?

Congress changes Social Security law to add $50 per month to every recipient's benefit, with the number of recipients unchanged. What is the direct budget effect?

A law expands Medicare eligibility to a new group of people while benefit payments for current participants stay unchanged. What is the likely effect on federal spending?