Read the chart.
In 2017, the government spent the least amount of money on which discretionary spending category?
| | Category/Department | Amount (Billions) | % of Budget |
| :-------------------- | :----------------------- | :---------------- | :---------- |
| {multirow}Mandatory | Social Security | $1,046 | 235% |
| | Medicare | $625 | 14.8% |
| | Medicaid | $412 | 9.3% |
| {multirow}Discretionary Spending | Defense Dept | $546 | 12.9% |
| | Dept of Veterans Affairs | $75 | 1.9% |
| | Human/Health Svcs | $74 | 1.8% |
A. Department of Defense
B. Health and Human Services Department
C. Social Security
D. Emergency funding
Answer (2)
Identify discretionary spending categories and their respective amounts.
Compare the amounts spent in each category.
Determine the category with the least amount spent.
The government spent the least on Human/Health Svcs: He a lt han d H u man S er v i cesDe p a r t m e n t .
Explanation
Understanding the Problem The table provides government spending data for 2017, categorized as either Mandatory or Discretionary. The question asks us to identify the discretionary spending category with the smallest expenditure.
Identifying Discretionary Spending Categories We need to examine the 'Discretionary Spending' section of the table and compare the amounts allocated to each category.
Listing Spending Amounts The discretionary spending categories listed are:
Defense Dept: $546 billion
Dept of Veterans Affairs: $75 billion
Human/Health Svcs: $74 billion
Comparing Expenditures Comparing these amounts, we see that Human/Health Svcs ($74 billion) has the smallest expenditure.
Conclusion Therefore, the government spent the least amount of money on the Human/Health Svcs discretionary spending category in 2017.
Examples
Understanding government spending helps us see where our tax dollars go. For example, knowing that $74 billion was spent on Human/Health Services in 2017 allows us to compare this to other areas like defense or veterans affairs. This kind of analysis is crucial for informed citizenship and understanding government priorities. It also helps in evaluating whether resources are being allocated efficiently and in line with public needs.
The government spent the least amount of money on the Human/Health Services discretionary spending category in 2017, totaling $74 billion. Therefore, the correct answer is B. Health and Human Services Department.
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