Legal Definitions - Comptroller General of the United States

The Comptroller General of the United States is a government official who leads the General Accounting Office, which is responsible for auditing the receipt and disbursement of U.S. government funds and conducting investigations for members of Congress and congressional committees. The Comptroller General is appointed by the President with the advice and consent of the Senate.

The General Accounting Office (GAO) is an office in the legislative branch of the federal government. It was established by the Budget and Accounting Act of 1921 and is headed by the Comptroller General of the United States. The GAO is responsible for auditing government funds and conducting investigations for Congress.

• The Comptroller General of the United States oversees the General Accounting Office.
• The General Accounting Office audits the use of government funds to ensure they are being used properly.
• Congress can request investigations from the General Accounting Office to look into potential issues with government spending.

These examples illustrate how the Comptroller General and the General Accounting Office work together to ensure that government funds are being used appropriately and to investigate any potential issues with government spending.