Bureau of the Budget

Definition

The Bureau of the Budget was a federal agency established in 1921 to oversee and manage the budgetary process of the United States government. It played a crucial role in the Republican Ascendancy of the 1920s by centralizing financial control and promoting fiscal responsibility.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. The Bureau of the Budget was established to centralize financial control and promote fiscal responsibility within the federal government.
2. It was responsible for preparing the president's annual budget proposal and overseeing the execution of that budget by federal agencies.
3. The Bureau played a key role in the Republican Ascendancy of the 1920s by enforcing the party's commitment to fiscal conservatism and limited government.
4. The Bureau's efforts to control spending and reduce the federal deficit were seen as important to the economic prosperity and political stability of the 1920s.
5. The Bureau's influence grew under the leadership of Director Charles G. Dawes, who used his position to assert greater control over federal agencies and their budgets.

Review Questions

• Explain the role of the Bureau of the Budget in the Republican Ascendancy of the 1920s.
  • The Bureau of the Budget played a crucial role in the Republican Ascendancy of the 1920s by centralizing financial control and promoting the party's commitment to fiscal conservatism. The Bureau was responsible for preparing the president's annual budget proposal and overseeing the execution of that budget by federal agencies. This allowed the Bureau to enforce spending limits and reduce the federal deficit, which was seen as important to the economic prosperity and political stability of the decade. The Bureau's influence grew under the leadership of Director Charles G. Dawes, who used his position to assert greater control over federal agencies and their budgets, aligning with the Republican Party's vision for a limited federal government.
• Describe the relationship between the Bureau of the Budget and the Budget and Accounting Act of 1921.
  • The Bureau of the Budget was established by the Budget and Accounting Act of 1921, which gave the new agency the authority to prepare the president's annual budget and oversee federal spending. This legislation was a key part of the Republican Ascendancy's efforts to centralize financial control and promote fiscal responsibility within the federal government. The Bureau's role in managing the budgetary process allowed it to play a significant part in shaping the economic and political agenda of the 1920s, as it worked to align federal spending with the Republican Party's vision of limited government and balanced budgets.
• Analyze the influence of the Bureau of the Budget on the executive branch reorganization efforts during the Republican Ascendancy.
  • The Bureau of the Budget's role in managing the federal budget and overseeing agency spending gave it significant influence over the executive branch reorganization efforts of the 1920s. As the Republican Party sought to streamline and consolidate the various agencies and departments within the federal government, the Bureau of the Budget was able to use its budgetary authority to drive this process. The Bureau's control over agency funding and its ability to shape the president's budget proposal allowed it to incentivize and enforce reorganization efforts that aligned with the party's vision of a more efficient and fiscally responsible government. This integration of the Bureau's work with the broader Republican Ascendancy agenda was a key factor in the Bureau's growing influence during this period.

Related terms

Budget and Accounting Act of 1921: The legislation that created the Bureau of the Budget, giving it the authority to prepare the president's annual budget and oversee federal spending.

Fiscal Conservatism: The political philosophy that emphasizes balanced budgets, reduced government spending, and limiting the role of the federal government in the economy.

Executive Branch Reorganization: The process of streamlining and consolidating the various agencies and departments within the executive branch of the federal government.