Describe the variety of actors in the US Government budget process and what they are trying to achieve. In this day and age, do you think their goals are typically for the public good or to gain or hold personal power? Identify and briefly describe the five major ways of viewing politics in public budgeting. Lately, which view is MOST accurate in your opinion?

Explain budgetary decision making in terms of the five decision clusters. Which cluster do you think is the most political and why?