United States Government: Democracy in ActionUnit 7:
Public Policies and ServicesBig Idea Activity <![CDATA[<a onClick="window.open('/olcweb/cgi/pluginpop.cgi?it=jpg::::/sites/dl/free/0078799821/680642/big_idea.jpg','popWin', 'width=NaN,height=NaN,resizable,scrollbars');" href="#"><img valign="absmiddle" height="16" width="16" border="0" src="/olcweb/styles/shared/linkicons/image.gif"> (10.0K)</a>]]>
Are U.S. tax dollars being spent wisely?
Assignment: Investigate Government Spending
Investigate a Government Accountability Office (GAO) report and prepare a televised newscast summarizing your research. Assignment Task List
Step 1: Review the sources of government revenues and major spending categories. Complete the circle graphs below with labels and percentages discussed in your textbook.
 <![CDATA[<a onClick="window.open('/olcweb/cgi/pluginpop.cgi?it=jpg::::/sites/dl/free/0078799821/680642/unit7.jpg','popWin', 'width=NaN,height=NaN,resizable,scrollbars');" href="#"><img valign="absmiddle" height="16" width="16" border="0" src="/olcweb/styles/shared/linkicons/image.gif"> (16.0K)</a>]]>Step 2: Sequence the federal budget process. Write each step in the correct order on the chart below. Steps in Preparing and Passing the Federal Budget | Step 1:
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Step 3: Gather online information about one aspect of government spending. Visit the Government Accountability Office (GAO) Web site at www.gao.gov. Click on the tab "Topic Collections" near the top of the screen. Select a topic, and then click on one of the issues related to that topic. Identify the issue here:
- Title:
- Date:
- Government department or agency overseeing spending:
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Step 4: Read and summarize the issue. Then prepare the information as a five-minute broadcast story for the evening news. Prepare visual aids (graphs, charts, photographs) to supplement and help explain the news story. To conclude your broadcast bit, add a "public service opinion" about whether the issue was an example of wise government spending or wasteful government spending.
Step 5: Present your "broadcast" to the rest of the class. A successful broadcast will demonstrate the following items:
___ Who? What? Where? When? Why? and How? questions answered
___ detailed research that shows a deep understanding of the subject
___ eloquent and creative presentation
___ speaker communicates well with the audience
___ clear and smooth transitions in presentation
___ at least two visual aids used effectively <![CDATA[<a onClick="window.open('/olcweb/cgi/pluginpop.cgi?it=jpg::::/sites/dl/free/0078799821/680642/big_idea.jpg','popWin', 'width=NaN,height=NaN,resizable,scrollbars');" href="#"><img valign="absmiddle" height="16" width="16" border="0" src="/olcweb/styles/shared/linkicons/image.gif"> (10.0K)</a>]]>
After all of the broadcasts have been presented, discuss this question: Are U.S. tax dollars being spent wisely?  | 
