Title 31Money and FinanceRelease 119-73

§711 General authority

Title 31 › Subtitle SUBTITLE I— - GENERAL › Chapter CHAPTER 7— - GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY OFFICE › Subchapter SUBCHAPTER II— - GENERAL DUTIES AND POWERS › § 711

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

Comptroller General can make rules, give duties to GAO staff, set rules for people who represent others before the Office, and require witnesses to swear to tell the truth in audits and account settlements.

Full Legal Text

Title 31, §711

Money and Finance — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

The Comptroller General may—
(1)prescribe regulations to carry out the duties and powers of the Comptroller General;
(2)delegate the duties and powers of the Comptroller General to officers and employees of the Government Accountability Office as the Comptroller General decides is necessary to carry out those duties and powers;
(3)regulate the practice of representatives of persons before the Office; and
(4)administer oaths to witnesses when auditing and settling accounts.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Historical and Revision Notes

Revised SectionSource (U.S. Code)Source (Statutes at Large) 71131:44(1st sentence).June 10, 1921, ch. 18, § 304(1st par. 1st sentence), 42 Stat. 24. 31:52(c), (d).June 10, 1921, ch. 18, § 311(c), (d), 42 Stat. 25; Feb. 15, 1980, Pub. L. 96–191, § 8(e)(4), 94 Stat. 33. 31:52–1(related to direct).Feb. 15, 1980, Pub. L. 96–191, § 2(related to direct), 94 Stat. 27. 31:117.R.S. § 297. In clause (1), the words “may . . . prescribe

Regulations

to carry out the duties and powers of the Comptroller General” are substituted for “shall make such

Rules and Regulations

as may be necessary for carrying on the work of the General Accounting Office” in 31:52(d) for consistency. In clause (2), the word “delegate” is substituted for “direct” in 31:52–1, and the words “officers and employees” are substituted for “personnel”, and 31:52(c) is omitted, for consistency in the revised title and with other titles of the United States Code. In clause (3), the words “rules and” in 31:52(d) are omitted as surplus. The words “representatives of persons” are substituted for “attorneys” for clarity and consistency in the revised title. In clause (4), the words “in any case in which they may deem it necessary for the due” in 31:117 are omitted as surplus. The words “auditing and settling” are substituted for “examination” for consistency. The words “with which they shall be charged” are omitted because of the restatement.

Editorial Notes

Amendments

2004—Par. (2). Pub. L. 108–271 substituted “Government Accountability Office” for “General Accounting Office”. Expired Appropriations Available for Deposit Into Employees’ Compensation Fund Pub. L. 113–6, div. F, title VI, § 1611, Mar. 26, 2013, 127 Stat. 427, provided that: “(a) In General.—Available balances of expired Government Accountability Office appropriations shall be available to the Government Accountability Office to make the deposit to the credit of the Employees’ Compensation Fund required by section 8147(b) of title 5[,] United States Code. “(b)

Effective Date

.—This section shall apply with respect to fiscal year 2013 and each fiscal year thereafter.”

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

31 U.S.C. § 711

Title 31Money and Finance

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73