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Instructions for Budget Analysis

Each student is required to conduct a detailed analysis of the budget process of a federal
government agency (that is, an agency of the U.S. national government) other than the U.S.
Department of State. Note that the national government in the United States is also called the
federal government. In completing the paper, select one federal government agency from
https://www.usa.gov/federal-agencies/a, collect information about the budget process of the selected
agency, and ground your analysis in course material, in interviews with key officials of the
agency, and in the budget manual, current operating budget, and annual financial report of the
federal agency. The instructor must approve your proposal on CANVAS before you implement
the proposal. Budget Analysis Proposal (not more than one page) is due by 2:00 p.m. on
September 1, 2015 and must contain the selected federal government agency and a plan for
completing the assignment. Budget Analysis Paper is due by 2:00 p.m. on November 10,
2015. You must consistently follow the American Psychological Association (APA) format in
your writing. The paper must be at least 3500 total words, with the following paper formatting:
12 pt. Times New roman font and one inch margins on all sides. Note that words in the title page
and the reference page will not count toward the minimum word requirement. You must organize
your Budget Analysis based on the outline in the Instructions for Budget Analysis that are
under the Budget Analysis Module on CANVAS. Submit the Budget Analysis proposal in the
Budget Analysis Proposal folder and Budget Analysis Paper in the Budget Analysis Paper folder
under the Assignments tab on CONVAS. Due Dates: By 2:00 p.m. on September 1, 2015 for
Budget Analysis Proposal and by 2:00 p.m. on November 10, 2015 for Budget Analysis Paper.
Each student must present the Budget Analysis Paper during the time slot of the class day
assigned to the student by the instructor between November 17 and December 1, 2015. Before
6 p.m. on your assigned presentation class day, you must submit your PowerPoints in the
PowerPoints Presentation folder under the Assignments tab on CANVAS. The presentation
should not be more than five slides of PowerPoints and must be based on all the issues under
the Budget Process Section and the Revenue and Expenditure Section in the Instructions for
Budget Analysis posted under the Budget Analysis Module on CANVAS.
You will score zero points for plagiarism and zero points for the failure to submit the Budget
Analysis Proposal and the Budget Analysis Paper and for the failure to present the Budget
Analysis Paper Presentation) as specified.

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You must organize your Budget Analysis based on the following outline:
Introduction
Organizational History, Purpose, and Goals
Budget Process
Revenue and Expenditure
Conclusion

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The following issues must be addressed in the Budget Analysis Paper. You will be deducted 5
points for the failure to address an issue

Introduction

Describe what the paper is all about.

Explain how the subsequent sections of the paper relate to one another.

Organizational History, Purpose, and Goals

Briefly discuss the history and purpose of the selected federal government agency.
Explain how the purpose of the selected federal government agency has changed with
changing political, social and/or economic circumstances.
Discuss the policy direction of the current budget of selected federal government agency.

Budget Process

Discuss the selected federal government agencys budget process and cycle.
Explain the type of budget format the selected federal government agency follows: a lineitem budget, a program budget, or both.
Discuss the political conflict evident in the budget process.
Explain the nature of conflict among key actors over budget requests.
Compare and contrast the current budget with at least a prior years budget and discuss
trends over time.
Discuss the level of citizen satisfaction with the software capability of the selected
federal government agency and with the priorities integrated into budget decisions.
Discuss the performance measures used in the budget process of the selected federal
government agency.

Revenue and Expenditure

Discuss the selected federal government agencys revenue sources: user fees, property
taxes, intergovernmental transfers, and so on.
Discuss changes in revenue sources.
Discuss how the selected federal government agencys expenditures are servicing its
objectives.

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Discuss projects the selected federal government agency is pursuing and the reasons for
pursing the projects.
Explain the cash management plan of the selected federal government agency.
Describe the sufficiency of the revenues of the selected federal government agency for its
goals.

Conclusion

Summarize your paper.

Discuss how the selected federal government agency may be served better using a
different budget format, different performance measures, and/or different software
capabilities.