
From the U.S. Code Online via GPO Access
[wais.access.gpo.gov]
[Laws in effect as of January 2, 2001]
[Document not affected by Public Laws enacted between
  January 2, 2001 and January 28, 2002]
[CITE: 31USC3523]

 
                       TITLE 31--MONEY AND FINANCE
 
                   SUBTITLE III--FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT
 
                  CHAPTER 35--ACCOUNTING AND COLLECTION
 
             SUBCHAPTER III--AUDITING AND SETTLING ACCOUNTS
 
Sec. 3523. General audit authority of the Comptroller General

    (a) Except as specifically provided by law, the Comptroller General 
shall audit the financial transactions of each agency. In deciding on 
auditing procedures and the extent to which records are to be inspected, 
the Comptroller General shall consider generally accepted auditing 
principles, including the effectiveness of accounting organizations and 
systems, internal audit and control, and related administrative 
practices of each agency.
    (b) The Comptroller General shall audit the Architect of the Capitol 
at times the Comptroller General considers appropriate. Section 716 of 
this title applies to the Architect in conducting the audit. The 
Comptroller General shall report the results of the audit to Congress. 
Each report shall be printed as a Senate document.
    (c)(1) When the Comptroller General decides an audit shall be 
conducted at a place at which the records of an executive agency or the 
Architect of the Capitol are usually kept, the Comptroller General may 
require the head of the agency or the Architect to keep any part of an 
account of an accountable official or of a record required to be 
submitted to the Comptroller General. The Comptroller General may 
require records be kept under conditions and for a period of not more 
than 10 years specified by the Comptroller General. However, the 
Comptroller General and the head of the agency or the Architect may 
agree on a longer period.
    (2) The Comptroller General and the head of an agency in the 
legislative or judicial branch of the United States Government (except 
the Architect) may agree to apply this subsection to the agency.

(Pub. L. 97-258, Sept. 13, 1982, 96 Stat. 962.)

                                          Historical and Revision Notes
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
---------------------------------
           Revised Section                   Source (U.S. Code)                
Source (Statutes at Large)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
---------------------------------
3523(a)..............................  31:67(a).                       Sept. 12
, 1950, ch. 946, Sec.  117(a), 64
                                                                        Stat. 8
37.
3523(b)..............................  31:67(c).                       Sept. 12
, 1950, ch. 946, 64 Stat. 832,
                                                                        Sec.  1
17(c); added Aug. 20, 1964, Pub.
                                                                        L. 88-4
54, Sec.  105(a)(last par.), 78
                                                                        Stat. 5
51.
3523(c)..............................  31:67(b).                       Sept. 12
, 1950, ch. 946, Sec.  117(b), 64
                                                                        Stat. 8
37; Aug 20, 1964, Pub. L. 88-454,
                                                                        Sec.  1
05(a)(last par.), 78 Stat. 551.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
---------------------------------

    In the section, the words ``Comptroller General'' are substituted 
for ``General Accounting Office'' for consistency.
    In subsection (a), the words ``otherwise'' and ``including but not 
limited to the accounts of accountable officers'' are omitted as 
surplus. The words ``in accordance with such principles and procedures 
and under such rules and regulations as may be prescribed by the 
Comptroller General of the United States'' are omitted as unnecessary 
because of section 711 of the revised title. The words ``to be 
followed'' are omitted as surplus. The words ``to which records are to 
be inspected'' are substituted for ``of examination of vouchers and 
other documents'' for consistency in the revised title and with other 
titles of the United States Code.
    In subsection (b), the first sentence is substituted for 
31:67(c)(1st sentence), and the word ``Congress'' is substituted for 
``the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of 
Representatives'', for consistency and to eliminate unnecessary words.
    In subsection (c), the words ``the head of'' are added for 
consistency.
    In subsection (c)(1), the words ``or places'', ``accounts and 
other'', and ``contracts, vouchers, and other'' are omitted as surplus. 
The word ``record'' is substituted for ``documents'' for consistency in 
the revised title and with other titles of the Code. The words ``under 
existing law'' are omitted as surplus.
    In subsection (c)(2), the words ``Provided, That'' are omitted 
because of the restatement. The words ``the accounts and records of'' 
are omitted as surplus.

                  Section Referred to in Other Sections

    This section is referred to in title 2 sections 104a, 104b; title 42 
sections 2996h, 10711.
