[20040924]RS21746_政府广告支出：概述.pdf

1 Andrew Hacker, “Poets of Packaging, Sculptors of Desire,” New York Times, June 24, 1984,section 7, p.1. Congressional Research Service The Library of CongressCRS Report for CongressReceived through the CRS WebOrder Code RS21746Updated September 24, 2004Government Advertising Expenditures: An OverviewKevin R. KosarAnalyst in American National GovernmentGovernment and Finance DivisionSummaryGovernment advertising can be controversial if it conflicts with citizens viewsabout the proper role of government. Yet some government advertising is accepted asa normal part of government information activities. According to an industry estimate,the federal government spends over $1 billion a year on advertising. However,government advertising expenditures are difficult to estimate because (1) there is nogovernment-wide definition of what constitutes advertising; and (2) there is no centralauthority to which agencies are required to report advertising expenses. Agenciesdiscretion to advertise is limited primarily by restrictions imposed by Congress inauthorization and appropriations statutes and by the principles set forth in volume 1 ofthe Government Accountability Offices (GAOs) Principles o