This document discusses budget tracking and provides definitions of key budgeting terms like appropriations, budget, and fiscal year. It outlines the budget cycle of formulation, enactment, execution, and auditing. It advises the reader to decide what money to follow, find the relevant budget data sources, and look for differences between approved and released funding. The document also offers tips for tracking policymakers, including working across party lines, sharing credit, and tailoring communications appropriately.