For this assignment, you'll need to do a little research on a topic related to federal budget policy, and write about it on the Moodle discussion forum. The specific topics are listed below (and there is a separate thread in the discussion area for each). Only a maximum of seven students may respond to each of the listed topics; first come, first served.

Here are the topic areas:

The federal debt ceiling?

Key policy features of the recently passed budget deal?

What's a continuing resolution?

What's the difference between the budget deficit and the national debt? Should we worry about either or both?

What is dynamic scoring for tax policies?

A federal balanced budget law?

Budget sequestration?

Pick one topic area, and do as much background research as you need to become familiar with it. Then, organize your thinking and facts into a short essay. ("Essay" means you should have a claim and support it with evidence.) Try to get beyond the basic facts: think about the larger issues of fiscal policy and how the topic you are investigating fits into it. What's interesting here? Why would anyone care? How does this impact the policy-making process or policy choices? Is it relevant to the economy's path in the short run or long run? Include complete citations for all sources.

Post your writing as a Reply to the relevant thread of the discussion forum on Moodle.