UNITED STATES PUBLIC POLICY: A BUDGETARY APPROACH uses the budget as the primary lens through which to view public policy. Based on the assumption that decisions about how much to spend and on what reveal our societal values, goals, and priorities, the text is readily accessible to undergraduates. The approach provides a ready thematic core to the book, and is something that allows continuity of approach to a broad variety of policy issues. After establishing an understanding of the institutions and actors that engage in policymaking at the federal, state, and local levels, the book provides rich detail for each of the policy areas that account for the bulk of federal and state spending. The chapters are arranged in the order of decreasing governmental expenditure. These discussions include not just a sketch of contemporary policy but also the historical background to allow the student to understand how we got to where we are today and what problems we faced along the way.