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Federal Budget Policy

Class Three -- Thursday, February 5th

In this class, we will begin our discussion of Congressional budgeting procedures. For an overview of the subject, please read Chapter One of Fiscal Challenges: William, Dauster, The Congressional Budget Process. As part of our discussion, we will focus our attention on the The Gramm-Rudman-Hollings Act, which is explored in Kate Stith, Our Fiscal Constitution, 76 Cal. L. Rev. 593 (1988), and also the subject of the Supreme Court's Decision in Bowshar v. Synar, 478 U.S. 714 (1986). As you review these materials, consider how you would evaluate the Gramm-Rudman-Hollings Act as a matter of public policy. Why did the Supreme Court find aspects of the legislation to be unconstitutional?