Kevin R. Kosar
Analyst in American National Government
Government advertising can be controversial if it conflicts with citizens’ views about the proper role of government. Yet some government advertising is accepted as a normal part of government information activities.
It is difficult to calculate the amount of funds spent by the federal government on advertising each year. The reasons for this include (1) there is no government-wide definition of what constitutes advertising and (2) there is no central authority to which agencies are required to report advertising expenses.
However, an estimate of the federal government’s expenditures on contracts for advertising services can be derived from data in the Federal Procurement Data System. According to this data, federal agencies spent $944.8 million on advertising services in FY2010.
Agencies’ discretion to advertise is limited primarily by restrictions imposed by Congress in authorization and appropriations statutes and by the principles set forth in volume 1 of the Government Accountability Office’s (GAO’s) Principles of Federal Appropriations Law. Any oversight of government advertising expenditures rests with agencies’ inspectors general, GAO, and Congress.
Date of Report: March 10, 2011
Number of Pages: 9
Order Number: R41681
Price: $19.95
Follow us on TWITTER at http://www.twitter.com/alertsPHP or #CRSreports
Document available via e-mail as a pdf file or in paper form.
To order, e-mail Penny Hill Press or call us at 301-253-0881. Provide a Visa, MasterCard, American Express, or Discover card number, expiration date, and name on the card. Indicate whether you want e-mail or postal delivery. Phone orders are preferred and receive priority processing.
Analyst in American National Government
Government advertising can be controversial if it conflicts with citizens’ views about the proper role of government. Yet some government advertising is accepted as a normal part of government information activities.
It is difficult to calculate the amount of funds spent by the federal government on advertising each year. The reasons for this include (1) there is no government-wide definition of what constitutes advertising and (2) there is no central authority to which agencies are required to report advertising expenses.
However, an estimate of the federal government’s expenditures on contracts for advertising services can be derived from data in the Federal Procurement Data System. According to this data, federal agencies spent $944.8 million on advertising services in FY2010.
Agencies’ discretion to advertise is limited primarily by restrictions imposed by Congress in authorization and appropriations statutes and by the principles set forth in volume 1 of the Government Accountability Office’s (GAO’s) Principles of Federal Appropriations Law. Any oversight of government advertising expenditures rests with agencies’ inspectors general, GAO, and Congress.
Date of Report: March 10, 2011
Number of Pages: 9
Order Number: R41681
Price: $19.95
Follow us on TWITTER at http://www.twitter.com/alertsPHP or #CRSreports
Document available via e-mail as a pdf file or in paper form.
To order, e-mail Penny Hill Press or call us at 301-253-0881. Provide a Visa, MasterCard, American Express, or Discover card number, expiration date, and name on the card. Indicate whether you want e-mail or postal delivery. Phone orders are preferred and receive priority processing.
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