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ties. This website’s Publications section contains summaries of the three categories
of GAAP: GASB Statements (Category A); GASB Interpretations (Category A); and
GASB Concept Statements (Category E). The site has other items related to the
GASB’s activities: exposure drafts, news agendas for board meetings, and the
GASB’s Technical Project Plan, which details the project’s objectives and status. The
Performance Measures section has extensive information about reporting on serv-
ice efforts and accomplishments. The Communication section provides the email
addresses and phone extensions for the GASB board members and staff.

FEDERAL ACCOUNTING STANDARDS ADVISORY BOARD (http://www.fasab.gov/). At its
October 1999 meeting, the AICPA Council adopted a resolution recognizing the
Federal Accounting Standards Advisory Board (FASAB) as the body designated to
establish generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) for federal government
entities. This website provides the FASAB standards and concepts.

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION (www.sec.gov). Accountants involved
with public companies will find several useful links in the Current SEC Rulemaking
section of this website. The Proposed Rule link lists rule proposals related to
accounting and other matters the SEC regulates. Comments on the proposals may
be submitted by e-mail. The Final Rule section lists final rules currently available.
The site also contains the most recently issued pronouncements, such as Staff
Accounting Bulletins. New Bulletins are listed in this section. Concept and Inter-
pretative Releases as well as Policy Statements can be found here.

Websites Related to Auditing. The following websites are useful for re-
searching current issues pertaining to auditing standards:

AICPA AUDIT AND ATTEST STANDARDS (www.aicpa.org/members/div/auditstd/
index.htm). This site distributes information about the pronouncements of the
Auditing Standards Board (ASB). The Technical Activities and Publications section
includes summaries of recently issued Statements on Auditing Standards (SASs)
and Statements on Standards for Attestation Engagements (SSAEs), as well as inter-
pretations of SASs and SSAEs. The site also provides a wealth of information about
the ASB’s activities. For example, there are highlights of each ASB meeting, as well
as In Our Opinion, a quarterly publication of the Audit and Attest Standards Team.
Finally, interested parties can obtain exposure drafts and other documents of inter-
est to auditors, such as the AICPA’s Audit Issues in Revenue Recognition paper.

GAO GOVERNMENTAL AUDITING STANDARDS (www.gao.gov/govaud/ybk01.htm).
Government Auditing Standards, that is, the “Yellow Book,” contains standards for
audits of government organizations, programs, activities, and functions and for
audits of government assistance received by contractors, not-for-profit organiza-
tions, and other nongovernment organizations. The complete Yellow Book text is
available at this site. In February 1997, the Advisory Council on Government Audit-
ing Standards endorsed an issue-by-issue approach to revising individual stan-
dards. The approach continues the practice of exposing all revisions to public com-
ment. Since the exposure drafts and recently issued standards are available on this
website, it is valuable for keeping current on changes to the Yellow Book. For exam-
ple, Government Auditing Standard Amendment 2 was available electronically two
months prior to printed copies. In addition to tracking changes to the Yellow Book,
this site also makes it easy to follow the actions of the Advisory Council, since it car-
ries meeting highlights and notices of forthcoming meetings.

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