Paper #2 Guidelines
The second paper will focus on the America budget either: (1) the budget-making process carried out in legislatures with influence from the executive; or, (2) the budget execution process carried out in administrative agencies. You may choose to focus on the federal or state budgetary process ( I have chosen to focus on The Expo Line which is part of the Public transportation in Los Angeles). The goal of this paper is to identify the social and political conflicts that underlie public budgeting in America as well as the key role played by different political actors and institutions in shaping fiscal policy choices. In this paper you will be asked to examine one case of American budgeting in detail (I choose the case study of the Expo Line in Los Angeles). You can look at any aspect of the budgeting process, for example the appropriation of funds for a specific initiative or the process through which funding is allocated and carried out for a certain policy.
OUTLINE: Your paper should include:
I. Introduction
• Thesis statement
• Purpose of research paper
II. Literature Review
• What have other scholars said about this topic?
III. Your Main Argument
IV. Conclusion
• Summary of arguments
Papers average around 5 pages.
Your paper should have the following format:
• 12 pt. Times New Roman font; justified alignment; 1 inch margins; double spaced; page #s.
• Citations should use Chicago Author-Date system. MUST include a bibliography, internal citations, and website links.