abbr. Government Accountability Office American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. The Government Accountability Office gathers information to help Congress determine how effectively executive branch agencies are doing their jobs. Other articles where Government accountability is discussed: constitution: Accountability: Under constitutional government, those who govern are regularly accountable to at least a portion of the governed. {{#verifyErrors}} {{message}} {{/verifyErrors}} {{^verifyErrors}} {{#message}} In a constitutional democracy, this accountability is owed to the electorate by all persons in government. It keeps track of the taxpayers’ dollars that are used by the legislature and the executive branches. The ‘Government Accountability Office (GAO) is an agency under the legislative branch of the U.S. government that monitors and audits the United States Congress’ spending and operations. Government Accountability Office. Government Accountability Office synonyms, Government Accountability Office pronunciation, Government Accountability Office translation, English dictionary definition of Government Accountability Office. The Government Accountability Office (GAO) is known as "the investigative arm of Congress" and "the congressional watchdog." The U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) is a legislative branch government agency that provides auditing, evaluation, and investigative services for the United States Congress. The Government Accountability Office (GAO, previously called the Government Accounting Office) is the legislative agency responsible for ensuring the funds appropriated by Congress are spent for the purposes provided by Congress. GAO engages in audits and investigations, but it has negligible enforcement power. {{#verifyErrors}} {{message}} {{/verifyErrors}} {{^verifyErrors}} {{#message}} GAO supports the Congress in meeting its constitutional responsibilities and helps improve the performance and accountability of the federal government for the benefit of the American people. Executive branch includes an executive department as defined in 5 U.S.C. also sets government standards for accounting, provides legal opinions, and settles claims against gov. Government Accountability Office (GAO) An investigative arm of Congress, formerly called the General Accounting Office. The Government Accountability Office (GAO) Definition. 1. Agency Details Acronym: GAO. Government Accountability Office definition: (in the US) a federal agency that ensures that the executive is accountable to Congress ,... | Meaning, pronunciation, translations and examples Legal definition of Government Accountability Office: agency within the legislative branch charged with auditing and evaluating government programs and activities to ensure effective and efficient disbursement of public funds. Main Address: 441 G St., NW Learn more. Accountability can be enforced through a great variety of regular procedures,… It is the supreme audit institution of the federal government of the United States.It identifies its core "mission values" as: accountability, integrity, and reliability. 101, a Government corporation, an independent establishment (other than the Government Accountability Office), the Postal Service, the Postal Regulatory Commission, and also includes any other … Learn more. Government Accountability Office (GAO) helps Congress perfom its oversight functions by reviewing activities of exectuive branch to see if it's following congressional intent of laws and efficiency and effectiveness of policy implementation. Government Accountability Office meaning: → GAO. Website: Government Accountability Office (GAO) Contact: Contact the Government Accountability Office. Members of Congress may request a wide variety of reports, analyses, and raw data,which is supplied in a nonpartisan manner by the GAO.It also recommends actions to be taken by Congress as a result of findings in the reports. Government Accountability Office definition: → GAO. General Accounting Office 2.