GAO History, 1921-1991

Washington, DC: U.S. General Accounting Office, 1991. Presumed first edition/first printing. Wraps. Good. Cover has slight wear and soiling. Mailing label residue on back cover.. vi, 168 p. 28 cm. Illustrations. Note on Sources. Index. "GAO/OP-3-HP"--Cover. This is one of the United States General Accounting Office History Program. From Wikipedia: "The Government Accountability Office (GAO) is an independent agency which provides to the United States Congress audit, evaluation, and investigative services. As such it is part of 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. The act required the head of the 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". According to the 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 by the GAO Human Capital Reform Act to better reflect the mission of the office. While most other countries have government entities similar to the GAO, their focus is primarily on conducting financial audits. The GAO's auditors conduct not only financial audits, but also engage in a wide assortment of performance audits."