What is a Government Shutdown?

What is a Government Shutdown?

            A lot of people have asked me what is a government shutdown? Before I explain to you what a government shutdown is, I would like to relate it to your life. For example, let's say that your family has five thousand dollars in $5000. Your father wants to buy a car, and your mother wants to buy new furniture for the house. They disagree, and they do not spend that 5000 dollars money. You, as a son or daughter, will not get anything. 

So, a government shutdown is when the government of a country stops working because the political parties want to spend the money (the budget) on different programs. For example, Republicans and Democrats disagree on how to spend that money. Therefore, they do not want to pass the law, and the government will not get money to work and shut down. The government is like a big organization that does important things like schools, hospitals, and more.

When this happens, the government can't pay its workers or keep some places open, like parks or museums. This can be a problem because it affects people's lives and the country's economy. People hope the government will figure it out and start working again soon. Until they reach an agreement, it's called a "government shutdown," and things can be difficult for everyone in the country.