United States
Open Budget Survey 2017
- Downloads:
- Country Summary Questionnaire
IBP considers countries that score above 60 on the Open Budget Index as providing sufficient budget information to enable the public to engage in budget discussions in an informed manner. IBP considers countries scoring above 60 on participation and oversight as providing adequate opportunities for the public to participate in the budget process and providing adequate oversight practices, respectively.
Transparency (Open Budget Index)
77
out of 100
The United States provides the public with substantial budget information.
How Has the Open Budget Index Score Changed Over Time?

Recommendations for Improving Transparency
The United States should prioritize the following actions to improve budget transparency:
- Produce and publish a Citizens Budget.
- Provide comparisons between planned expenditures and planned revenues against actual outcomes in the Year-End Report.
Public Participation
22
out of 100
The United States provides few opportunities for the public to engage with the executive branch in a formal way on budget matters.
How Does Public Participation Compare to Other Countries in the Region?
Recommendations for Improving Participation
The United States should prioritize the following actions to improve public participation in its budget process:
- Pilot mechanisms for members of the public and executive branch officials to exchange views on national budget matters during the national budget’s formulation and the monitoring of its implementation.
- Establish formal mechanisms for the public to participate in relevant audit investigations.
Budget Oversight (by Legislature & Audit)
85
out of 100
The legislature and supreme audit institution in the United States provide adequate oversight of the budget.
To What Extent Does the Legislature Provide Budget Oversight?
The legislature provides adequate oversight during the budget cycle. This score reflects that the legislature provides adequate oversight during the planning stage of the budget cycle and adequate oversight during the implementation stage of the budget cycle.
To What Extent Does the Supreme Audit Institution Provide Budget Oversight?
The supreme audit institution provides adequate budget oversight.
Recommendations for Improving Oversight
The United States should prioritize the following actions to make budget oversight more effective:
- Ensure legislators approve the annual budget before the start of the budget year.
- Ensure a legislative committee examines the annual Audit Report and publishes a report presenting its finding and recommendations in a timely manner.
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The information on this page presents a partial country summary. For more detailed information, please download:
Open Budget Survey 2015
- Downloads:
- Country Summary - English Questionnaire
Transparency (Open Budget Index) 81/100
The Government of the United States provides the public with extensive budget information.
Public Participation 69/100
The Government of the United States provides the public with adequate opportunities to engage in the budget process.
Budget Oversight
By legislature 85/100
Budget oversight by the legislature in the United States is adequate.
By auditor 100/100
Budget oversight by the supreme audit institution in the United States is adequate.
Recommendations
Improving Transparency
The United States should prioritize the following actions to improve budget transparency:
- Produce and publish a Citizens Budget for its Executive’s Budget Proposal.
- Increase the comprehensiveness of the Enacted Budget by, for instance, presenting information on all expenditures, revenues, and debt.
Improving Participation
The United States should prioritize the following actions to improve budget participation:
- Establish formal regulations that oblige the executive to engage with the public during each stage of the budget cycle.
- Establish formal mechanisms for the public to participate in audit investigations.
Improving Oversight
The United States should prioritize the following to strengthen budget oversight:
- Ensure legislators approve the annual budget before the start of the fiscal year.
Open Budget Survey 2012
- Downloads:
- Country Summary - English Questionnaire
Open Budget Survey 2010
- Downloads:
- Country Summary Questionnaire
Open Budget Survey 2008
Open Budget Survey 2006
- Downloads:
- Country Summary Country Summary Questionnaire