This student booklet with accompanying teacher's guide examines the issues and controversies surrounding the nation's debt and deficits. The first section defines key terms relating to the issues and traces how the United States got on the road to fiscal disorder. The second section examines what specific federal spending programs have triggered…

The Student Text and Teacher's Guide examine the government's role in the U.S. economy and how the choices made by the government in Washington affect each individual. The student text is divided into four chapters. Chapter 1, "Government's Role in the Economy," discusses why government gets involved in the economy and examines the social and…