GAAFR Textbook Flashcards
Which of the following best describes the role that accounting, financial reporting, and the financial statement audit play for state and local governments?
A. They comprise a comprehensive framework of internal control.
B. They provide the informational infrastructure of public finance.
C. They serve as a public-sector performance management system.
(Ch. 1)
B
Who is PRIMARILY responsible for ACCOUNTING?
A. The governing body
B. The independent auditor
C. Management
(Ch. 1)
C
Who is PRIMARILY responsible for FINANCIAL REPORTING?
A. The governing body
B. The independent auditor
C. Management
(Ch. 1)
C
Which of the following best describes the relationship between accounting and financial reporting?
A. The two terms are essentially interchangeable.
B. The two terms are complementary but distinct.
C. The two terms are unrelated.
(Ch. 1)
B
What determines the content and format of internal financial reports?
A. Generally accepted accounting principles
B. Management’s needs and preferences
C. Both A and B
(Ch. 1)
B
What typically determines the content and format of general purpose external financial reports?
A. Generally accepted accounting principles
B. Management’s needs and preferences
C. Both A and B
(Ch. 1)
A
Which of the following methods of communication would require that a given item meet the definition of a financial statement element?
A. Display
B. Disclosure
C. Both A and B
(Ch. 1)
A
Which of the following methods of communication focuses on providing an operational, economic, or historical context?
A. Disclosure
B. Supporting information
C. Both A and B
(Ch. 1)
B
Which of the following is an essential characteristic of accounting data?
A. Precision
B. Comparability
C. Both A and B
(Ch. 1)
B
Who is ultimately responsible for a government’s financial reporting?
A. The independent auditor
B. Management
C. The governing body
(Ch. 1)
C
The principle that a local government possesses only those powers that are expressly granted to it by the state, or that are otherwise indispensable to its continued existence and functioning, is known as:
A. Home Rule
B. Dillon’s Rule
C. Comity of powers
D. Federalism
(Ch. 2)
B
There are two basic categories of local government. On that basis, which of the following does not belong with the others?
A. Township
B. Utility
C. Municipality
D. County
(Ch. 2)
B
The key differences between accounting and financial reporting for businesses and accounting and financial reporting for state and local governments are primarily attributable to:
A. Differences in environment
B. Differences in standard-setting
C. Differences in law
D. Differences in accounting theory
(Ch. 2)
A
Which of the following statements is true concerning the relationship between revenues earned and related costs?
A. It is of most interest to a business
B. It is of most interest to a government
C. It is of equal interest to both
(Ch. 2)
A
Which of the following statements is true concerning the relationship between revenue generation and the provision of goods and services?
A. The relationship is more direct for a business
B. The relationship is more direct for a government
C. The relationship is essentially the same for both
(Ch. 2)
A
Which of the following is a tool used by state and local governments to help assess stewardship and compliance?
A. Consolidation
B. Aggregation
C. Fund Accounting
D. Cost Accounting
(Ch. 2)
C
Which of the following statements is true concerning the presentation of budgetary comparisons in connection with financial statements?
A. It is required for state and local governments
B. It is required for businesses
C. Both A and B
D. Neither A nor B
(Ch. 2)
A
For all practical purposes, citizens are the public-sector equivalent of private-sector investors.
A. True
B. False
(Ch. 2)
B
The extent to which special purpose governments are used can vary significantly from one state to another.
A. True
B. False
(Ch. 2)
A
If some of a government’s activities function much like a business, while others do not, the government should use more than one measurement focus.
A. True
B. False
(Ch. 2)
A
GAAP provide authoritative guidance for which of the following?
A. Internal financial reporting
B. Special purpose external financial reporting
C. General purpose external financial reporting
D. All of the above
(Ch. 3)
C
Which of the following is not properly considered to be a primary user of state and local government financial statements?
A. Investors and creditors
B. Managers
C. Legislative and oversight bodies
D. None of the above
(Ch. 3)
B
Which of the following is always issued as part of the GASB’s due process?
A. Invitation to comment (ITC)
B. Discussion memorandum (DM)
C. Preliminary views (PV)
D. None of the above
(Ch. 3)
D
Which of the following has the highest status on the GAAP hierarchy for state and local governments?
A. NCGA statement
B. GASB implementation guide
C. AICPA statement of position specific to government and cleared by the GASB
D. AICPA issues paper
(Ch. 3)
A
Which of the following would be covered by the AICPA’s Ethics Rule 202?
A. GASB implementation guide
B. GASB technical bulletin
C. Widely recognized and prevalent practice
D. All of the above
(Ch. 3)
D
Which of the following would be covered by the AICPA’s Ethics Rule 203?
A. GASB interpretation
B. AICPA audit and accounting guide, State and Local Governments
C. GASB implementation guide
D. None of the above
(Ch. 3)
A
Which of the following is not necessarily definitive when determining whether a given entity should be considered a state or local government for purposes of GAAP?
A. Election of officers in a general election
B. Ability to unilaterally dissolve with reversion of assets to government
C. Ability to enact and enforce a tax levy
D. The ability to issue tax-exempt debt
(Ch. 3)
D
The SEC has the legal authority to set GAAP for state and local governments, though it historically has delegated that power to others.
A. True
B. False
(Ch. 3)
B
The FAF oversees the FASB, the GASB, and the FASAB.
A. True
B. False
(Ch. 3)
B
The fundamental purpose of due process is to determine that a majority of interested parties support accounting and financial reporting guidance proposed by the GASB.
A. True
B. False
(Ch. 3)
B
Which of the following is a fund category?
A. Internal service funds
B. Business-type activities
C. Fiduciary funds
D. All of the above
(Ch. 4)
C
Which of the following most likely would be reported in a proprietary fund?
A. Taxes
B. Grants
C. Fees and charges
D. Resources held in trust
(Ch. 4)
C
What is the maximum number of fund types that an individual government could report?
A. 5
B. 7
C. 11
D. There is no maximum number
(Ch. 4)
C
For which of the following fund types, if any, is there a specific limit on the number of individual funds that may be reported?
A. Special revenue funds B. Internal service funds C. Enterprise funds D. Agency funds E. None of the above
(Ch. 4)
E
Which of the following fund types must be reclassified whenever a component unit is blended into the financial statements of its primary government?
A. General fund
B. Enterprise funds
C. Internal service funds
D. None of the above
(Ch. 4)
A
Which of the following is a precondition for reporting a special reserve fund?
A. Limitation on expenditure imposed by an external party
B. One or more specific revenue source(s)
C. Preponderance of inflows from core source
D. All of the above
(Ch. 4)
B
When is the use of an enterprise fund required?
A. Outstanding debt backed solely by fees and charges
B. Legal requirement that fees and charges be set to recover costs (including capital)
C. Pricing policy that fees and charges be set to recover costs (including capital)
D. All of the above
(Ch. 4)
D
Which of the following statements is true concerning the use of an internal service fund?
A. The government itself must be the predominant participant
B. The fund must “break even” each year
C. Charges must include the cost of capital based on depreciation
D. All of the above
(Ch. 4)
A
Which of the following best describes the “Number of Funds principle”?
A. Use separate funds for separate activities
B. Funds in the financial statements should mirror funds in the accounting system
C. Use as many funds as bank accounts
D. Use only as many funds as necessary
(Ch. 4)
D
Which of the following is not a subcategory of interfund activity?
A. Loans B. Exchange and exchange-like transactions C. Transfers D. Reimbursements E. None of the above
(Ch. 4)
B