legal decisions and opinions resolving bid protests and addressing issues of appropriations law as well as opinions on the scope and exercise of authority of federal officers.

briefings, which are usually given directly to congressional staff members.

testimonies and statements for the record, where the former are delivered orally by one or more GAO senior executives at a congressional hearing and the latter are provided for inclusion in the Congressional Record.

Products of the GAO include the following:

advising Congress and the heads of executive agencies about ways to make government more efficient and effective.

performing policy analyses and outlining options for congressional consideration.reporting on how well government programs and policies are meeting their objectives.investigating allegations of illegal and improper activities.auditing agency operations to determine whether federal funds are being spent efficiently and effectively.It also undertakes research under the authority of the Comptroller General. The work of the GAO is done at the request of congressional committees or subcommittees or is mandated by public laws or committee reports. It is also known as the 'congressional watchdog'.

It identifies its core 'mission values' as: accountability, integrity, and reliability. It is the supreme audit institution of the federal government of the United States. Government Accountability Office ( GAO) is a legislative branch government agency that provides auditing, evaluative, and investigative services for the United States Congress. Measurable benefits of GAO work total $214.7 billion, a return of $338 for every dollar invested. Eugene Louis Dodaro, Comptroller General of the United States.

Congressional watchdog groups