GAO Performance and Accountability Report 2001

The U.S. General Accounting Office is an independent, professional, nonpartisan agency in the legislative branch that is commonly called the investigative arm of the Congress or the Congresss watchdog. Created in 1921 as a result of the Budget and Accounting Act, GAO has seen its role evolve over the decades as the Congress has expanded the agencys statutory authority and called on GAO with much greater frequency for oversight, insight, and foresight in addressing the growing complexity of government and society. This is GAOs performance and accountability report it combines an assessment of its accomplishments in fiscal 2001 with plans for continued progress through fiscal 2003.