Discussions about the appropriate levels of spending for various policy objectives of the federal government have played an important role in congressional deliberations over funding measures for FY2011, and are expected to play a central role as Congress considers decisions affecting the FY2012 budget. This book provides a graphical overview of historical trends in discretionary budget authority from 1976-2010, with estimates for 2011 spending, and the levels consistent with President Obama’s proposals for 2012-2016.