Mandatory outlays are different than discretionary outlays because: a. mandatory outlays usually change during the budget process, whereas discretionary outlays do not.
b. mandatory outlays have been decreasing as a percentage of the federal budget, whereas discretionary outlays have been increasing as a percentage of the federal budget.
c. discretionary outlays can be changed during the annual budget process, whereas mandatory outlays cannot.
d. discretionary outlays include entitlement programs (such as social security and medicare), whereas mandatory outlays include important government programs (such as defense).
e. discretionary outlays comprise the vast majority of the total budget, whereas mandatory outlays make up only a minor fraction.