Amazon.com description: Product Description: "[This book] does the near-impossible and provides a clearly written and objective primer that actually explains the budget process in lay terms.... This one should be on the desk of anyone who wants to follow the raging debates about appropriations, budgets, line-item vetoes, and constitutional amendments." The New York Times Book Review "An up-to-date, clear explanation of the federal budget. From the formulation of a federal agency's funding request to the final legislative appropriation, Schick has captured on paper the complex process. More importantly, he has captured the politics of federal budgeting from the original lofty goals to the stark realities of today." Senator Pete V. Domenici "Anyone who wants to understand federal budgeting should read this book.... Federal budgeting has complex rules and arcane terms, but Schick has a gift for explanations that are clear, entertaining, and insightful." Rep. Martin Olav Sabo An essential guide to the federal budget process, this book brings together three critical elements of budget strategy: the political tactics and relationships that determine budgetary success or failure; the policy objectives pursued through the budget's revenue and spending proposals; and the rules and procedures that govern congressional and presidential action on these proposals. Documents used in federal budgeting are highlighted to show how the process affects policy outcomes. Allen Schick is a visiting fellow in the Governmental Studies program at Brookings and professor of political science at George Mason University. His books on federal budgeting include The Capacity to Budget (Urban Institute, 1990) and Congress and Money (Urban Institute, 1980).