THE BETTER BUDGET

In this real-world simulation, students work in focus groups to craft budget recommendations for their congressional representative—learning firsthand how messy, complex, and political budgeting can be.

To build a balanced proposal, students explore liberal and conservative views on the role of government, examine categories of federal spending, and make tough calls about which programs to preserve, cut, delegate to states, or shift to the private sector.

What you’ll find inside:

• A step-by-step teaching guide
• Teacher materials
• Assessment tools
• Student materials

Students don’t just study civics—they experience it. Every decision sparks debate, demands compromise, and reveals what it takes to govern responsibly.