Questions and answers about a possible shutdown

If Republicans in Congress and the Democratic White House do not resolve their differences in time, the federal government will begin a partial shutdown at 12:01 a.m. Tuesday, with all but essential services curtailed or closed entirely.

A few weeks later, another deadline will arrive when the government bumps up against its legally authorized borrowing limit. If Congress does not vote to increase the debt limit, it could set off severe financial problems for the government as it scrambles for the cash it needs to meet its commitments.

Q: So, what exactly is going on?

A: There are two distinct issues. First, the government could be forced to scale back operations beginning Tuesday if Congress and the administration do not agree on extending federal spending authority; about 800,000 employees would be involuntarily furloughed, while others would possibly have to work without pay.

Then, a few weeks later, Congress and President Obama need to agree on terms for raising the federal debt ceiling so the Treasury Department can continue borrowing to meet the government's obligations, including interest payments on debt already issued.

Q: How have we reached this point?

A: Divided government always complicates governance, but increasing political polarization and the erosion of any moderate center in Congress have made it even more difficult. With Democrats controlling the White House and the Senate, the Republicans who control the House — tugged rightward by a vocal core of Tea Party conservatives — have begun using budget deadlines and the need for periodic debt limit increases as leverage to press for concessions. A favorite target, and the one at the center of the current dispute, is the health care overhaul passed by Congress and signed into law by Obama in 2010 over vigorous Tea Party opposition.

Democrats and the White House insist that they will not budge, and the first shutdown in 17 years is looking increasingly likely.

As for the debt limit, it was raised routinely in past years with bipartisan support. But Republicans say drastic measures are needed to keep the federal debt from continuing to rise.

Q: What would be the concrete effects of a shutdown?

A: If past shutdowns are a guide, federal employees deemed essential, including uniformed service members and some diplomats, would continue working. Many civilian employees of the military would be furloughed.

Most federal workers providing medical care, air traffic control, airport security, border protection, prisoner custody and disaster assistance would continue working. Mail would be delivered. The new federal health care program would remain largely untouched, allowing people to sign up for insurance plans under the law starting Tuesday.

Members of Congress, incidentally, are deemed essential and would continue to be paid.

Q: How would a debt default be felt?

A: While a shutdown would be damaging, a default could be disastrous, many economists and officials say. Treasury Secretary Jacob Lew told congressional leaders recently that a debt limit impasse in 2011 "caused significant harm to the economy and a downgrade to the credit rating of the United States." A default at this time, he added, "could be catastrophic."

While some conservatives say the potential harm is being exaggerated, many analysts say a default would rattle world markets, raising borrowing costs, slowing the recovery and causing lasting financial instability.