31 U.S.C. § 3511 — Prescribing accounting requirements and developing accounting systems

(a) The Comptroller General must prescribe the accounting principles, standards, and requirements that the head of each executive agency must observe. Before prescribing the principles, standards, and requirements, the Comptroller General must consult with the Secretary of the Treasury and the President on their accounting, financial reporting, and budgetary needs, and must consider the needs of the heads of the other executive agencies. (b) Requirements prescribed under subsection (a) of this section must— (1) provide for suitable integration between the accounting process of each executive agency and the accounting of the Department of the Treasury; (2) allow the head of each agency to carry out section 3512 of this title ; and (3) provide a method of— (A) integrated accounting for the United States Government; (B) complete disclosure of the results of the financial operations of each agency and the Government; and (C) financial information and control the President and Congress require to carry out their responsibilities. (c) Consistent with subsections (a) and (b) of this section— (1) the authority of the Comptroller General continues under section 121(b) of title 40 ; and (2) the Comptroller General may prescribe the forms, systems, and procedures that the judicial branch of the Government (except the Supreme Court) must observe. (d) The Comptroller General, the Secretary, and the President must conduct a continuous program for improving accounting and financial reporting in the Government.