31 U.S.C. § 711
Section 711 · General authority
Amended 2 times on record
Applied in 4 court decisions — leading case United States v. Wright (1931)
Most recently applied in 503 F. Supp. 605 - Toineeta v. Andrus (August 1980)
How often courts cite this section
Court decisions citing this, by year.Markers show enactment, consequential amendments, and circuit splits over this section — watch for a citation surge after a change or a disagreement. The dip in the last several years is a data-coverage gap, not a real trend — our corpus holds fewer opinions from the most recent years, so recent citations are undercounted.
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.
Editorial notes U.S. Code · Office of the Law Revision Counsel
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.
Amendments
2004—Par. (2). Pub. L. 108–271 substituted “Government Accountability Office” for “General Accounting Office”.