Gao 06 145 Amtrak Management

GAO-06-145 Amtrak Management: Systemic Problems Require Actions to Improve Efficiency, Effectiveness, and Accountability

Over the years, Congress has created or authorized the creation of numerous entities to carry out federal programs and further public purposes. Collectively, these entities receive trillions of dollars annually in funds appropriated by Congress. Given the wide variety of entity types, applicability of key broad-based requirements, and federal funding, this report: (1) identified and categorized federally created entities by type; (2) determined the extent to which the various entity types are generally subject to key broad-based statutory governance, accountability, and transparency requirements; and (3) determined the amount of appropriations Congress has made directly available to each of the individual entities in recent years (FY 2005 through 2008).

GAO-04-94 Intercity Passenger Rail: Amtrak's Management of Northeast Corridor Improvements Demonstrates Need for Applying Best Practices

FISCAM presents a methodology for performing info. system (IS) control audits of governmental entities in accordance with professional standards. FISCAM is designed to be used on financial and performance audits and attestation engagements. The methodology in the FISCAM incorp. the following: (1) A top-down, risk-based approach that considers materiality and significance in determining audit procedures; (2) Evaluation of entitywide controls and their effect on audit risk; (3) Evaluation of general controls and their pervasive impact on bus. process controls; (4) Evaluation of security mgmt. at all levels; (5) Control hierarchy to evaluate IS control weaknesses; (6) Groupings of control categories consistent with the nature of the risk. Illus.