Step One:

Identify a government program to analyzeone where the government makes direct payments to citizens. Examples include economic stimulus checks, small business grants, farm subsidies, disaster relief, renewable energy projects, housing grants, social security, and many more.

Step Two:

Gather research information about your program. Provide citation information for every source you use. Include the following information:

1. What is the history of the program?
2. Who benefits from this program and how?
3. What is the yearly cost to the American taxpayer? What is the historical cost data?
4. What percent of the total federal budget is spent on this program relative to other programs?
5. What is the impact of this program on price stability, full employment, and economic growth?
6. What is the potential impact beyond the direct payment recipient? (For example, a small business grant could lead to lowering the unemployment rate in a particular area.)
7. What are the professional opinions in support of and against the program?

Step Three:

Imagine that Congress is trying to balance the budget and cutting spending for many programs. Create a persuasive presentation or essay that persuades members of Congress to either support or not support continued funding for the payment program. There are many 21st century tools available for effective collaboration and communication in the online environment. For more information about tools your school recommends, please visit the resource tools area in your course or contact your instructor. Include a list of citations for your sources. Be sure to include your sources in

MLA format.