CH 03 BY THE NUMBERS: Representation in the First Congress: The Rise, Decline, and Recovery of Federal Aid, 1960-2017

What is the overall trend in grants-in-aid as a percentage of gross domestic product (GDP) from 1960 to 2017?

Grants-in-aid as percentage of GDP has remained fairly consistent, although it has risen slightly over time

Federal aid as a percentage of state and local expenditures is the most volatile of all the aid depicted. How would you explain this?

In the 1960s, federal grants were on the rise as the federal government assumed a large role in funding programs in the states. Then, in the 1980s, President Reagan returned responsibility to the states.

Of the following statements, which can be determined by the information presented in the graphic?

The amounts of federal aid and grants fluctuate greatly over time, but the amount of grants-in-aid as a percentage of GDP remains relatively constant.