What is the schedule for the federal budget process? Q.What is the schedule for the budget process? A.The congressional budget process is meant to last from early February to the end of June, but recent years have seen delays at each stage, particularly in passing congressional budget resolutions and in completing action on appropriation bills. Read more about What is the schedule for the federal budget process?
How do US taxes compare internationally? Q.How do US taxes compare internationally? A.Total US tax revenue equaled 26 percent of gross domestic product, well below the 33 percent weighted average for developed countries. Read more about How do US taxes compare internationally?
What does it mean for a government program to be off-budget? Q.What does it mean for a government program to be off-budget? A.The two Social Security trust funds and the postal service are “off-budget”—their spending and receipts are walled off from the rest of the budget. Putting Social Security and the post office off-budget shields them from some pressures, but policymakers often focus on the unified budget that includes them. A few other agencies are excluded because of their independence (e.g., the Federal Reserve) or private character (e.g., government-sponsored, privately owned entities and funds managed for private citizens). Read more about What does it mean for a government program to be off-budget?
