This brief, colorful and inexpensive book permits students to achieve a sense of ownership and participation in their government. At a time when young people feel disconnected and overwhelmed by the complexity of government, The Annual Report summarizes just where the federal government's money comes from - percent by source and exactly where it goes cents per dollar. Major government programs like Medicaid and Medicare, Social Security and Welfare are described simply and succinctly. I have used this book for about three semesters and it is wildly popular among students at graduate and undergraduate levels. All aspects of government are made accessible from the deficit to the decisions of the Supreme Court. The demographics chapter is a masterful work of art simplifying who we are and how we are changing as an American family and a population. The lists of elected officials and administration representatives with how to contact each is a valuable reference. The current affairs commentary represents a seamless connection between daily news and history. The numerous charts and graphs communicate a vast web of statistical data in clear simple terms with a context and a trend apparent and memorable. This book has led more than one student to feel more ready to participate in government by voting, writing to elected officials and thinking about how government should respond to sometimes intractable problems. The changes in the military are reported unblinkingly and in detail. For teachers who like data, for students who like short, simple and interesting, this is an excellent companion book to the standard text in a wide variety of content areas from public administration to community organizing, from history to managing a non-profit. I look forward to the next edition and thank the author and publisher for great layout and design and pithy usable content.

Meredith Bagby, again, "boils it down" for us and "gives it to us quick", as she cuts through the bureaucratic techno-speak we call "government" and puts it into understandable English.

Ms.Bagby does an excellent job of breaking down into simple terms often very complex and confusing matters. She does this with objectivity and fairness as she covers all the major basics with lucid fluidity -- Bill Ritchie