31 U.S.C. § 702 - Government Accountability Office

• Cite as: 31 U.S.C. § 702

(a) The Government Accountability Office is an instrumentality of the United States Government independent of the executive departments.

(b) The head of the Office is the Comptroller General of the United States. The Office has a Deputy Comptroller General of the United States.

(c) The Comptroller General may adopt a seal for the Office.

Cite as 31 U.S.C. § 702

Source: Pub. L. 97-258, Sept. 13, 1982, 96 Stat. 887; Pub. L. 100-545, §2(b), Oct. 28, 1988, 102 Stat. 2729; Pub. L. 108-271, §8(b), July 7, 2004, 118 Stat. 814.

Notes from the Office of Law Revision Counsel

current through 8/1/2023

<TABLE> <TR><TD colspan="3">HISTORICAL AND REVISION NOTES</TD> </TR> <TR> <TD>Revised Section</TD> <TD>Source (U.S. Code)</TD> <TD>Source (Statutes at Large)</TD> </TR> <TR> <TD>702(a)</TD> <TD>31:41(1st sentence less last 14 words, 2d, 3d sentences).</TD> <TD>June 10, 1921, ch. 18, §301, 42 Stat. 23.</TD> </TR> <TR> <TD>702(b)</TD> <TD>31:41(1st sentence last 14 words).</TD> <TD/> </TR> <TR> <TD> </TD> <TD>31:42(a)(1st sentence words before comma).</TD> <TD>June 10, 1921, ch. 18, §302(a)(1st sentence words before 1st comma), 42 Stat. 23; Apr. 3, 1980, Pub. L. 96-226, §104(a), 94 Stat. 314.</TD> </TR> <TR> <TD> </TD> <TD>31:1154(d)(1st sentence).</TD> <TD>Oct. 26, 1970, Pub. L. 91-510, §204(d)(1st sentence), 84 Stat. 1168; restated July 12, 1974, Pub. L. 93-344, §702(a), 88 Stat. 326.</TD> </TR> <TR> <TD> </TD> <TD>31:1155(a).</TD> <TD>Oct. 26, 1970, Pub. L. 91-510, §205(a), 84 Stat. 1168.</TD> </TR> <TR> <TD>702(c)</TD> <TD>31:51-1.</TD> <TD>Jan. 2, 1975, Pub. L. 93-604, §501(a), 88 Stat. 1962.</TD> </TR> <TR> <TD>702(d)</TD> <TD>31:41(last sentence).</TD> <TD/> </TR> </TABLE>

In subsection (a), the words "instrumentality of the United States Government" are substituted for "establishment of the Government" for consistency. The words "created . . . to be" and 31:41(2d, 3d sentences) are omitted as executed.

Subsection (b) is substituted for 31:41(1st sentence last 14 words) and 42(a)(1st sentence words before comma) to eliminate unnecessary words and for consistency. The word "Deputy" is substituted for "Assistant" because of section 101 of the Act of July 9, 1971 ( Pub. L. 92-51 85 Stat. 143). The text of 31:1154(d)(1st sentence) and 1155(a) is omitted as unnecessary because the Comptroller General, as the head of the Office, has the authority to establish constituent parts of the Office to carry out duties and powers unless otherwise specified by law.