Government Audit and Accountability of Federally Funded State-Administered Programs Act

Enumerated powers · passes

Congress has the power to appropriate funds and to ensure that federal funds are spent properly. The bill's requirement for a GAO report on federally funded programs is a legitimate exercise of Congress's spending power under Article I, Section 8, Clause 1, and its oversight authority. It does not regulate state conduct beyond the scope of federal funding.

Bill of Rights · passes

The bill imposes no restrictions on speech, religion, assembly, press, petition, arms, quartering, search and seizure, self-incrimination, due process, takings, trial rights, or cruel and unusual punishment. It is purely informational and does not affect any enumerated right.

Individual liberty · passes

The bill does not restrict individual action or property. It merely requires a federal agency to produce a report. No individual is compelled to act or refrain from acting, and no property is taken or regulated.

Decentralization · passes

The bill does not consolidate decision-making upward. It is a federal oversight function that inherently belongs to the federal government because it concerns federal funds. States and localities are not preempted or overridden; the report is advisory and does not impose mandates. The four-question test is satisfied: individuals and local communities are not involved in federal auditing, and the federal role is appropriate for federal funds.

Due process and takings · passes

The bill does not deprive any person of life, liberty, or property. It does not impose penalties, require hearings, or take property. It is a study and report, so procedural and substantive due process are not implicated.