Audit
Government Accountability Office
GAO
83/100
Summary
The Government Accountability Office is the supreme audit institution of the United States, auditing federal agencies and programs on behalf of Congress. The Comptroller General serves a 15-year term, one of the longest in US government, and can only be removed by joint resolution of Congress or impeachment — giving GAO strong structural independence from the executive branch.
Independence Scorecard
83/100
Moderate
Methodology v0.1
| Appointment | Mixed (multi-branch) |
|---|---|
| Term length | 15 years |
| Removal standard | Impeachment only |
| Budget independence | Legislative line item |
| Subpoena power | Yes |
| Compel testimony | Yes |
| Records access | Full access |
| Public reports required | Yes |
| Pre-publication review | None — reports published directly |
Statute
- Name
- Budget and Accounting Act of 1921, as amended
- Citation
- 31 U.S.C. §§ 701-720
- Full text
- Full text of law →
Jurisdiction scope
All federal departments and agencies; certain programs of grants to states and localities; independent agencies.