People's Pie

People's Pie is a balancing act! You must fund important programs without setting tax rates too high or borrowing too much money. To succeed, you
must keep your residents happy and avoid a burdensome national debt. Are you ready for a piece of People’s Pie?



For English Language Learners: This game offers a support tool, Spanish translation, voiceover, and glossary.


Teachers: Visit the iCivics "teach" page to check out classroom resources for People's Pie!


Learning Objectives:
-Analyze how federal tax and spending policies affect the national budget and the national debt
-Explain how corporate, income, and payroll taxes support the economy as a function of the government
-Describe various types of projects and services provided through federal taxes
-Explain how federal departments request funding for discretionary projects in their department


Game Features:
- Set taxes and retirement age over a three-year period
- Weigh a variety of policies and funding needs across the federal government
- Assess policy pitches to determine funding commitments
- Review your proposed annual budget and make hard decisions to reach a balance or surplus
- Manage public approval, as each decision you make will have an impact