Summary: The Federal Managers' Financial Integrity Act of 1982 required that GAO issue standards for internal control in the federal government, which it did in 1983. However, changes in information technology, human capital management issues, and financial management-related legislation prompted GAO to revise the standard and issue another internal control guide. (See GAO/AIMD-00-21.3.1, November 1999.) These standards provide the overall framework for establishing and maintaining internal control and for identifying and addressing major performance challenges and areas at greatest risk for fraud, waste, abuse, and mismanagement. GAO is issuing this management and evaluation tool, which is based on GAO's internal control guide, to help agencies maintain or implement effective internal control and, when needed, to determine what, where, and how improvements can be implemented. Although this tool is not required to be used, it is intended to provide a systematic, organized, and structured approach to assessing the internal control structure.
