Paperwork U.S Information Act Government Eslpod Reduction Agencies

In 1980, the U.S. government "enacted" (made into law) the Paperwork Reduction Act. The law was "prompted" (initiated; brought about) by a recognition that many "federal" (national) "agencies" (departments) were requiring too much paperwork from businesses and individuals. The Act requires government agencies to follow certain procedures if they want to collect information from the public.

Specifically, agencies must identify the purpose of why they are collecting information from the public, as well as a plan for how the information will be used. All forms must include a statement about why the information is being collected, an "estimate" (a good guess about the size or amount of something) of how long it will take to "complete" (fill out) the form, and whether filling out the form is "voluntary" (optional; not required) or "mandated" (obligatory; required by law). When requests are granted, there is usually a 60-day period when members of the public can "comment on" (provide their opinions about) the decision. Each approved form is assigned a "control number" (a number allowing something to be tracked or followed) that has to be renewed every three years.

The Act has made the U.S. Office of Management and Budget (OMB) a "clearinghouse" (a building or department where everything must pass through, especially for approval) for all forms issued by the U.S. government. Each year, the OMB "issues" (releases) a report on the "overall" (entire; whole) paperwork burden. In 2009, it found that the federal government placed a paperwork burden of 9.71 billion hours on U.S. citizens and businesses!