Budgeting for the federal government is an enormously complex process. It entails dozens of sub-processes, countless rules and procedures, the efforts of tens of thousands of staff persons in the executive and legislative branches, millions of work hours each year, and the active participation of the President and the congressional leaders, as well as other members of Congress and executive officials. This book provides an introduction to the federal budget process with a focus on the executive and congressional process; points of order in the congressional budget process; and issues for the fiscal year 2013 federal budget and beyond.