Public Budgeting in Context

Chapter FourBudget Foundations in US States

The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States, respectively, or to the people.

—Amendment X, US Constitution

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

After reading this chapter, you should be able to

• Understand the history of state government budget growth and the importance of this level of government in the United States
• Articulate the different legal constraints on US state government budgeting
• Distinguish between and among the constitutions, amendment procedures, and budgeting provisions of US states
• Investigate US state government budget rules and institutions and assess their impact on budgets
• Understand the legal foundations ...