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Encyclopedia > Government Accountability Office
Image:US General Accounting Office seal.gif
General Accounting Office headquarters, Washington, D.C.

The Government Accountability Office (GAO) is the non-partisan audit, evaluation, and investigative arm of Congress, and an agency in the Legislative Branch of the United States Government. The GAO was established as the General Accounting Office by the Budget and Accounting Act of 1921 (Pub.L. 67-13, 42 Stat. 20, June 10, 1921). This Act required the head of GAO to "investigate, at the seat of government or elsewhere, all matters relating to the receipt, disbursement, and application of public funds, and shall make to the President...and to Congress...reports (and) recommendations looking to greater economy or efficiency in public expenditures" (Sec. 312(a), 42 Stat. 25). According to GAO's current mission statement, the agency exists to support the Congress in meeting its Constitutional responsibilities and to help improve the performance and ensure the accountability of the federal government for the benefit of the American people. The name was changed in 2004 to better reflect the mission of the office.[1] Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (1472x1003, 365 KB) The headquarters of the Government Accountability Office in Washington, D.C.. It is adjacent to the National Building Museum (which is just beyond the right edge of this image). ... Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (1472x1003, 365 KB) The headquarters of the Government Accountability Office in Washington, D.C.. It is adjacent to the National Building Museum (which is just beyond the right edge of this image). ... An audit is an evaluation of an organization, system, process, project or product. ... Evaluation is the systematic determination of merit, worth, and significance of something or someone. ... A detective is an officer of the police who performs criminal or administrative investigations, in some police departments, the lowest rank among such investigators (above the lowest rank of officers and below sergeants), a civilian licensed to investigate information not readily available in public records (a private investigator, also called... Type Bicameral Houses Senate House of Representatives United States Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D since January 4, 2007 Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, D since January 4, 2007 Members 535 plus 4 Delegates and 1 Resident Commissioner Political groups (as of November 7, 2006 elections) Democratic Party Republican... The government of the United States, established by the United States Constitution, is a federal republic of 50 states, a few territories and some protectorates. ... The Budget and Accounting Act of 1921 (Pub. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... The United States Statutes at Large, commonly referred to as the Statutes at Large, is the official source for the laws and resolutions passed by Congress. ... June 10 is the 161st day of the year (162nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1921 (MCMXXI) was a common year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar). ... The United States Statutes at Large, commonly referred to as the Statutes at Large, is the official source for the laws and resolutions passed by Congress. ... Buskers perform in San Francisco A performance, in performing arts, generally comprises an event in which one group of people (the performer or performers) behave in a particular way for another group of people (the audience). ... Accountability is a concept in ethics with several meanings. ... The government of the United States, established by the United States Constitution, is a federal republic of 50 states, a few territories and some protectorates. ...


The GAO is headed by the Comptroller General of the United States, a non-partisan position in the U.S. Government. The Comptroller General is appointed by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, for a 15-year, non-renewable term. The President selects a nominee from a list of at least three individuals recommended by an 8 member bi-partisan, bi-cameral commission of congressional leaders. The Comptroller General may not be removed by the President, but only by Congress through impeachment or joint resolution for specific reasons. Since 1921, there have been only 7 Comptrollers General, and no formal attempt has ever been made to remove a Comptroller General. The long tenure of the Comptroller General and the manner of appointment and removal gives GAO a continuity of leadership and independence that is rare within government. ...


History

The Comptroller General position is currently filled by David M. Walker, a former Arthur Andersen partner and a Labor Department official in the Administrations of Presidents Ronald Reagan and George Bush. The seventh Comptroller General of the United States, Mr. Walker was appointed by President Clinton, and began serving his 15-year term in 1998. David M. Walker became the seventh Comptroller General of the United States and began his 15-year term when he took his oath of office on November 9, 1998. ... For the U.S. Supreme Court case commonly known as Arthur Andersen, see Arthur Andersen LLP v. ... William Jefferson Bill Clinton (born William Jefferson Blythe III[1] on August 19, 1946) was the 42nd President of the United States, serving from 1993 to 2001. ...


From the organization's founding in June 1921, when it was designated as a government establishment independent of the executive branch, until July 2004, GAO was an abbreviation for General Accounting Office. The current name was established as part of the GAO Human Capital Reform Act (Pub.L. 108-271, July 7, 2004). The introduction to this article provides insufficient context for those unfamiliar with the subject matter. ... is the 188th day of the year (189th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... shelby was here 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ...


GAO examines the use of public funds, evaluates federal programs and activities, and provides analyses, options, recommendations, and other assistance to help Congress make effective oversight, policy, and funding decisions. In this context, GAO works to continuously improve the economy, efficiency, and effectiveness of the federal government through financial audits, program reviews and evaluations, analyses, legal opinions, investigations, and other services. The GAO's activities are designed to ensure the executive branch's accountability to the Congress under the Constitution and the government's accountability to the American people.[citation needed] The executive is the branch of a government charged with implementing, or executing, the law and running the day-to-day affairs of the government or state. ...


Over the years, GAO has been referred to as "The Watchdog of Congress" and "The Taxpayers' Best Friend" for its frequent investigative reports that have uncovered waste and inefficiency in government. The news, media, television, electronically-based news sources, and print, often draw attention to GAO's work by doing stories on the findings, conclusions, and/or recommendations in GAO reports. In addition, Members of Congress frequently cite GAO's work in statements to the press, congressional hearings, and floor debates on proposed legislation.


GAO is a United States government electronic data provider, as all of its reports are available on its website (www.gao.gov), except for certain reports whose distibution is limited to official use in order to protect national and homeland security. The variety of topics reported on range from Federal Budget and Fiscal Issues to Financial Management, Defense, Homeland Security, Administration of Justice, Health Care, Information Management and Technology, Natural Resources, Environment, International Affairs, Trade, Financial Markets, Housing, Government Management and Human Capital. The United States federal government is the largest publisher of information in the world. ...


Most GAO studies and reports are initiated by requests from members of Congress, including requests mandated in statute, and so reflect concerns of current political import, but many reports are issued periodically and take a long view of U.S. agencies' operations.[citation needed] Examples of these are the annual Performance and Accountability Series and High Risk Update.


The Government Accountability Office also establishes standards for audits of government organizations, programs, activities, and functions, and of government assistance received by contractors, nonprofit organizations, and other nongovernmental organizations. These standards, often referred to as generally accepted government auditing standards (GAGAS), are to be followed by auditors and audit organizations when required by law, regulation, agreement, contract, or policy. These standards pertain to auditors' professional qualifications, the quality of audit effort, and the characteristics of professional and meaningful audit reports.


Single copies of printed versions of GAO reports can be requested (if you know the publication number of the document) for free via mail, phone, fax or a form on the agency website.

Comptroller General Term of Office
David M. Walker 1998 -
Charles A. Bowsher 1981 - 1996
Elmer B. Staats 1966 - 1981
Joseph Campbell 1955 - 1965
Lindsay C. Warren 1940 - 1954
Fred H. Brown 1939 - 1940
John Raymond McCarl 1921 - 1936

David M. Walker became the seventh Comptroller General of the United States and began his 15-year term when he took his oath of office on November 9, 1998. ... Year 1998 (MCMXCVIII) was a common year starting on Thursday (link will display full 1998 Gregorian calendar). ... Year 1981 (MCMLXXXI) was a common year starting on Thursday (link displays the 1981 Gregorian calendar). ... Year 1996 (MCMXCVI) was a leap year starting on Monday (link will display full 1996 Gregorian calendar). ... 1966 (MCMLXVI) was a common year starting on Saturday (the link is to a full 1966 calendar). ... Year 1981 (MCMLXXXI) was a common year starting on Thursday (link displays the 1981 Gregorian calendar). ... Joseph Campbell may refer to: Joseph Campbell - American 20th century mythologist. ... 1955 (MCMLV) was a common year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... 1965 (MCMLXV) was a common year starting on Friday (the link is to a full 1965 calendar). ... Lindsay Carter Warren (16 December 1889 - 28 December 1976) was a Democratic U.S. Congressman from North Carolina between 1925 and 1940. ... This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ... Year 1954 (MCMLIV) was a common year (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Fred Herbert Brown (April 12, 1879–February 3, 1955) was an American lawyer and Democratic politician from Somersworth, New Hampshire. ... Year 1939 (MCMXXXIX) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ... Year 1921 (MCMXXI) was a common year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar). ... 1936 (MCMXXXVI) was a leap year starting on Wednesday (link will take you to calendar). ...

External links

The Federation of American Scientists (FAS)[1] is a non-profit organization formed in 1945 by scientists from the Manhattan Project who felt that scientists, engineers and other innovators had an ethical obligation to bring their knowledge and experience to bear on critical national decisions. ...

References

  1. ^ GAO.gov
United States Congress
Members Current – House: Former members | Senate: Current by age, Current by seniority; Former, Expelled/censured, Classes
Leaders House: Speaker, Party leaders, Party whips, Dem. caucus, Rep. conference, Dean | Senate: President pro tempore (list), Party leaders, Assistant party leaders, Dem. Caucus (Chair, Secretary, Policy comm. chair), Rep. Conference (Chair, Vice-Chair, Policy comm. chair), Dean
Groups African Americans, Asian Pacific Americans, Caucuses, Committees, Demographics, Hispanic Americans, Senate Women
Agencies, Employees & Offices Architect of the Capitol, Capitol guide service (board), Capitol police (board), Chiefs of Staff, GAO, Government Printing Office, Law Revision Counsel, Librarian of Congress, Poet laureate | House: Chaplain, Chief Administrative Officer, Clerk, Doorkeeper, Emergency Planning, Preparedness, and Operations, Historian, Page (board), Parliamentarian, Postmaster, Reading clerk, Recording Studio, Sergeant at Arms | Senate: Chaplain, Curator, Historian, Librarian, Page, Parliamentarian, Secretary, Sergeant at Arms
Politics & Procedure Act of Congress (list), Caucuses, Committees, Hearings, Joint session, Oversight, Party Divisions, Rider | House: Committees, History, Jefferson's Manual, Procedures | Senate: Committees, Filibuster, History, Traditions, VPs' tie-breaking votes
Buildings Botanic Garden, Capitol, Capitol Complex, Office buildings (House: Cannon, Ford, Longworth, O'Neill, Rayburn, Senate: Dirksen, Hart, Russell)
Research Biographical directory, Congressional Quarterly, Congressional Record, Congressional Research Service, Library of Congress, The Hill, Roll Call, THOMAS
Misc Congressional districts (by area), Mace of the House, Power of enforcement, Scandals, Softball League

  Results from FactBites:
 
U.S. Government Accountability Office (U.S. GAO) (645 words)
The U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) is known as "the investigative arm of Congress" and "the congressional watchdog." GAO supports the Congress in meeting its constitutional responsibilities and helps improve the performance and accountability of the federal government for the benefit of the American people.
GAO was ranked one of the best places to work in the Federal Government in 2007.
These decisions are prepared by GAO's Office of General Counsel, and are identified by a numbering system beginning with B-(number); each decision carries its own B-number and date.
Government Accountability Office - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (869 words)
The Government Accountability Office (GAO) is the non-partisan audit, evaluation, and investigative arm of Congress, and an agency in the Legislative Branch of the United States Government.
The GAO's activities are designed to ensure the executive branch's accountability to the Congress under the Constitution and the government's accountability to the American people.
GAO is a United States government electronic data provider, as all of its reports are available on its website (www.gao.gov), except for certain reports whose distibution is limited to official use in order to protect national and homeland security.
  More results at FactBites »


 

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