{
  "id": "R46357",
  "type": "CRS Report",
  "typeId": "REPORTS",
  "number": "R46357",
  "active": true,
  "source": "EveryCRSReport.com",
  "versions": [
    {
      "source": "EveryCRSReport.com",
      "id": 624824,
      "date": "2020-05-14",
      "retrieved": "2020-05-20T22:19:08.120269",
      "title": "Congressionally Mandated Reports: Overview and Considerations for Congress",
      "summary": "Congress frequently requires the President, departments, agencies, and other entities of the federal government to transmit reports, notifications, studies, and other information on a specified timeline. Reporting requirements may direct agency officials to notify Congress or its committees of forthcoming actions or decisions, describe actions taken on a particular matter, establish a plan to accomplish a specified goal, or study a certain problem or concern. \nReporting requirements may be designed to serve a range of purposes that facilitate congressional oversight of the executive branch and inform congressional decisionmaking. Required reports may help legislators monitor executive activity, ensure compliance with legislative intent, focus agency attention on matters of importance to Congress, and assess the effectiveness of existing programs and policies. Certain reports on complex or emerging issues may also help originate or inform legislative proposals. \nThis report discusses the potential benefits and challenges of reporting requirements, and analyzes a number of statutory reporting requirements enacted during the 115th Congress. (Patterns gleaned from these data may not be generalizable to requirements enacted in other years.) This report analyzes features common to legislative language establishing reporting requirements. In general, most identified statutory reporting provisions specify\nthe information that must be contained in the report;\nthe identity of the official or agency responsible for submission;\nthe recipient of the report;\nthe deadline by which the report must be submitted; and\nwhether the requirement is for a one-time or recurring report.\nDepending on the type of reporting requirement, the reporting provision may also include language detailing whether the information reported to Congress must also be made publicly available, and how any potentially classified material contained in the report ought to be handled. Some provisions also permit certain activities only upon the submission of a report or notification to Congress, such as the waiver of sanctions, or the transfer or reprogramming of appropriated funds.",
      "type": "CRS Report",
      "typeId": "REPORTS",
      "active": true,
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          "url": "https://www.crs.gov/Reports/R46357",
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          "images": {}
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      ],
      "topics": [
        {
          "source": "IBCList",
          "id": 4751,
          "name": "Federal Workforce"
        },
        {
          "source": "IBCList",
          "id": 4860,
          "name": "Oversight"
        }
      ]
    }
  ],
  "topics": [
    "American Law",
    "Foreign Affairs",
    "National Defense"
  ]
}