Unsatisfactory

1

Poor

2

Fair

3

Above Average

4

Excellent

5

Score

Define the term budget.

The student does not attempt to define the term budget.

The student incorrectly defines the term budget.

The student understands that a budget is a plan for spending available money during a certain period of time.

The student understands that a budget is a plan for spending available money during a certain period of time. The student explains why it is important to create budget.

The student understands that a budget is a plan for spending available money during a certain period of time. The student explains why it is important to create budget and describes situations when people may create a budget.

Create a monthly budget.

The student does not attempt to create a monthly budget.

The student attempts to create a monthly budget, but the budget shows that the student will spend more money than is available during a certain period of time.

The student creates a monthly budget in which the total amount of money allotted for 15 expenses does not exceed the money available.

The student creates a monthly budget in which the total amount of money allotted for 15 expenses does not exceed the money available. The student prioritizes spending based on what is most important.

The student creates a monthly budget in which the total amount of money allotted for 15 expenses does not exceed the money available. The student prioritizes spending based on what is most important and explains why he or she chose to allot the money in a certain manner.

Evaluate a budget and prioritize spending based on what is important.

The student does not attempt to evaluate a budget.

The student attempts to evaluate a budget but does not prioritize spending based on what is important.

The student evaluates a budget and prioritizes spending based on what is important.

The student evaluates a budge, explains how the budget can be modified to increase savings, and prioritizes spending based on what is important.

The student evaluates a budge, explains how the budget can be modified to increase savings, prioritizes spending based on what is important, and explains why he or she chose to allot the money in a certain manner.

Identify the major spending categories of the federal budget.

The student does not attempt to identify the major spending categories in the federal budget.

The student identifies less than five major spending categories in the federal budget.

The student correctly identifies the major spending categories in the federal budget.

The student correctly identifies the major spending categories in the federal budget, and describes each category.

The student correctly identifies the major spending categories in the federal budget, describes each category, and discusses how much money should be allotted to each category.

Draw a pie chart that shows what they think are priorities for national spending.

The student draws a pie chart that shows some budget allocations, but little or no consideration was made as to how money should be allocated.

The student draws a pie chart, but it does not reflect current issues, events, or national spending.

The student draws a pie chart that shows what he or she thinks are priorities for national spending.

The student draws a pie chart that shows what he or she thinks are priorities for national spending and explains his or her reasoning.

The student draws a pie chart that shows what he or she thinks are priorities for national spending and explains his or her reasoning. The student's chart reflects events and issues that Americans are currently concerned with.

Identify at least three major services provided by the local, state, and national governments.

The student identifies only one major service provided by the local, state, and national governments.

The student identifies only two major services provided by the local, state, and national governments.

The student identifies three major services provided by the local, state, and national governments.

The student identifies three major services provided by the local, state, and national governments. The student understands that the government must generate revenue to pay for these services.

The student identifies three major services provided by the local, state, and national governments. The student understands that the government must generate revenue to pay for these services and describes some ways the government generates revenue.

Identify the major sources of revenue for government spending.

The student does not understand the term revenue and does not attempt to identify the major sources of revenue for government spending.

The student understands the term revenue but does not know how the government generates revenue.

The student understands that the government generates most of its revenue from taxes.

The student understands that the government generates most of its revenue from income taxes.

The student understands that the government generates most of its revenue from income taxes and describes other types of taxes that generate revenue.

Unsatisfactory

1

Poor

2

Fair

3

Above Average

4

Excellent

5

Score

Describe how the federal government creates a budget.

The student does not understand the term budget and cannot explain how the government creates a budget.

The student understands what budgets are but does not know how the government creates a budget.

The student understands that the Executive Branch submits a proposed budget to Congress and Congress reviews the President's budget, develops its own budget, and approves spending and revenue bills.

The student understands that the Executive Branch submits a proposed budget to Congress and Congress reviews the President's budget, develops its own budget, and approves spending and revenue bills. The student describes how Congress first passes a "budget resolution" and then passes 13 annual appropriations bills.

The student understands that the Executive Branch submits a proposed budget to Congress and Congress reviews the President's budget, develops its own budget, and approves spending and revenue bills. The student describes how Congress first passes a "budget resolution" and then passes 13 annual appropriations bills. The student explains that congress must also set targets for total revenues.

Identify the major spending categories in the federal budget.

The student does not attempt to identify the major spending categories in the federal budget.

The student identifies less than five major spending categories in the federal budget.

The student correctly identifies the major spending categories in the federal budget.

The student correctly identifies the major spending categories in the federal budget, and describes each category.

The student correctly identifies the major spending categories in the federal budget, describes each category, and discusses how much money should be allotted to each category.

Describe the conflicts and compromises that are part of the federal budget process.

The student does not understand the federal budget process.

The student describes the federal budget process but does not describe the compromises that must be made.

The student describes the federal budget process and explains why compromises must be made.

The student describes the federal budget process, discusses why conflicts occur, and explains why compromise is an important part of the federal budget process.

The student describes the federal budget process, discusses why conflicts occur, and explains why compromise is an important part of the federal budget process. The student explains how many budget decisions are politically motivated and describes the impact that budget cuts have on individuals and groups.

Describe why governments need revenue to provide goods and services.

The student does not understand the term "revenue."

The student describes some goods and services that the government provides but does not understand the term revenue.

The student understands that all federal goods and services cost money. In order to provide goods and services to citizens, they must raise money.

The student understands that all federal goods and services cost money. In order to provide goods and services to citizens, they must raise money. The student describes some of the goods and services that the government provides.

The student understands that all federal goods and services cost money. In order to provide goods and services to citizens, they must raise money. The student describes some of the goods and services that the government provides and explains how revenue is generated for those goods and services.

Explain how the federal, state, and local governments garner revenue to pay for expenses, and to which programs spending is applied.

The student does not understand the term revenue.

The student understands that the government needs revenue but cannot explain how the government receives revenue.

The student understands that governments receive most of their revenue from taxes.

The student understands that governments receive most of their revenue from taxes. The student describes the different types of taxes, such as sales tax, income tax, and property tax.

The student understands that governments receive most of their revenue from taxes. The student describes the different types of taxes, such as sales tax, income tax, and property tax and describes the government's tax revenue by percentage.

Explain the relationship between government revenues and spending and between budget deficits and the national debt.

The student cannot define the terms surplus or deficit.

The student can define the term surplus or deficit but not both.

The student understands that a budget deficit occurs when government spending exceeds revenues. A budget surplus occurs when budget revenues exceed revenues. A balanced budget is a budget for which current expenditures are equal to current revenue.

The student understands that a budget deficit occurs when government spending exceeds revenues. A budget surplus occurs when budget revenues exceed revenues. A balanced budget is a budget for which current expenditures are equal to current revenue. The student describes how the government is trying to reduce the deficit.

The student understands that a budget deficit occurs when government spending exceeds revenues. A budget surplus occurs when budget revenues exceed revenues. A balanced budget is a budget for which current expenditures are equal to current revenue. The student describes how the government is trying to reduce the deficit and explains how the government can create a balanced budget.

Predict how changes in federal spending and taxation would affect budget deficits and surpluses and the national debt.

The student does not have a clear understanding of taxes, budget deficits, surpluses, or the national debt.

The student understands why the necessity of taxes, but cannot explain how taxation would affect budget deficits and surpluses and the national debt.

The student evaluates spending cuts and possible tax increases to balance the federal budget and describes how changes in federal spending and taxation affect surpluses and the national debt.

The student evaluates spending cuts and possible tax increases to balance the federal budget and describes how changes in federal spending and taxation affect surpluses and the national debt. The student explains current efforts to reduce the national debt.

The student evaluates spending cuts and possible tax increases to balance the federal budget and describes how changes in federal spending and taxation affect surpluses and the national debt. The student explains current efforts to reduce the national debt and explains how Members of Congress work to achieve a balanced budget.