Ashly Day

Mr. Hawkins
American Government P, Per. 2
8 October 2014
The Preamble and the Federal Budget: Are We Slicing the
Pie Correctly?
The federal budget is the yearly plan for how the US government will
spend the money it takes from taxes. The president proposes a budget each
year and leaders of the other parties in congress may also propose a budget.
These numbers are large and sometimes difficult to grasp, but the preamble
gives us ways to think about them and to judge how our budget is spent. In
each of the following Three Budget Clusters, the United States government
should make adjustments in the way it is distrusting money by changes
involving The Big Five, changes involving The Middle Five, and changes
involving The Little Guys.
Throughout the budget, the big five plays a huge role, making
up eighty two percent of the budget. The government assists millions of
families in meeting basic expenses and provides a finical safety net for the
sick, elderly, and other dependent persons.(Document A) This signals to the
allies what the role of the United States is in the world. According to Professor
Schick, the budget helps people by assisting millions of families in meeting
basic expenses while also making new roads and improving other human
needs. (Document A) But along with these plans this makes budgeting a

difficult process because as big as the budget is there is never enough money
to satisfy all demands. The safety net program falls under the category of
general warfare. So there for, Combining Medicare, social security, and
defense which are all part of the safety net makes up sixty percent of the
budget in two thousand twelve. This all can help the represent the green
party, which is all natural and believes in Medicare and general warfare.
The middle five, which makes up ten percent of the federal budget
mostly, insures domestic tranquility by providing veterans benefits and
services, transportation, education, justice, and homeland
security.(Document C) When it comes to education funds, most education
spending in the United States is done by state and local government. State
and local spending on education in two thousand twelve was eight hundred
and seventy-five billion dollars. When it comes to deciding whether the
deferral government should play a larger role in education, and relying less
on the state and local governments I think they should rely less and more on
benefits and constructional education. The second largest slice in the pie
involves transportation. According to (Document D) transportation is made
up of construction and maintains of roads, bridges, airports, and ports.
Transportation is under common defense which is providing a strong defense
for Americans safety.
The little guys, which makes up three percent of the federal
budget mostly focuses on Natural Rescourses and Environment. Al
thought this is the biggest section of the pie graph it only takes up one
percent. Natural resources and the environment include conservations and
protection of public lands, water, and mineral resources. (Document E) The

second largest section on the pie graph is General science and space (NASA).
This makes up, administers NASA, National science Foundation, and general
science programs at the departments of energy (Document E). Together,
these make up Intensive domestic tranquility and providing the common
defense which means providing a strong defense for American safety, and
providing a stable income so the people can live happy. The little guys also
play a big role in The Green party by focusing on natural and re constructing
the environment. In (Document F) Question number three asks how does
each figure link to the goals in the preamble and does the author feel that
the budget fulfills the goal of the preamble? In analyzing this question I think
each figure used in document f does represent the preamble. The author uses
the soldier to represent safety nets and support program which benefit the
goals of the preamble. So yes I believe the illustration is accurate.

In conclusion, the federal budget is the yearly plan for how the US
government will spend the money it takes from taxes. The president proposes
a budget each year and leaders of the other parties in congress may also
propose a budget like stated in the introduction. In each document the big
Five, The middle Five, and the little guys all represent something different , all
having different purposes for each slice of the pie.