**GAO-09-205**                      Published: Apr 20, 2009. Publicly Released: May 08, 2009.                  

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## Highlights

 

Regulation is one of the principal tools that the government uses to implement public policy. As part of the rulemaking process federal agencies must comply with an increasing number of procedural and analytical requirements. GAO was asked to examine how broadly applicable rulemaking requirements cumulatively have affected (1) agencies' rulemaking processes, in particular including effects of requirements added to the process since 2003, and (2) transparency of the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA) regulatory review process. To address these objectives, GAO reviewed selected rules issued between January 2006 and May 2008 and associated dockets and also interviewed knowledgeable agency and OIRA officials.

 

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## Topics

Government Operations

Cost effectiveness analysisData collectionData integrityDocumentationEconomic indicatorsExecutive agenciesExecutive ordersFederal agenciesFederal regulationsIndependent agenciesInformation resources managementInternal controlsRegulatory agenciesReporting requirementsRequirements definitionTransparency