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Legislative Branch Agencies

The CBO, GAO, CRS, Library of Congress and other support agencies that give Congress its own numbers, audits, and research.

Architect of the Capitol
The agency, and the official who leads it, responsible for maintaining the Capitol and the buildings and grounds around it
Government Publishing Office
The legislative-branch agency that produces the official text of federal laws, regulations, and the Congressional Record, and prints U.S. passports
Medicare Payment Advisory Commission
The independent commission that advises Congress on how much Medicare should pay doctors, hospitals, and other providers
Office of Congressional Ethics
The independent, nonpartisan House office that reviews misconduct allegations against members and staff and refers cases to the Ethics Committee
Office of Congressional Workplace Rights
The office that applies federal workplace laws to Congress and handles complaints from legislative-branch employees
The Congressional Budget Office
Congress's nonpartisan scorekeeper: the official estimates of what bills cost and where the budget is headed
The Congressional Research Service
Congress's in-house think tank: confidential, nonpartisan research and legal analysis for members and committees
The Government Accountability Office
Congress's auditor and investigator, often called the watchdog of the federal purse
The Library of Congress
The largest library in the world, the research arm of Congress, and home of the U.S. Copyright Office
United States Botanic Garden
A living plant museum at the foot of Capitol Hill, run by Congress through the Architect of the Capitol
United States Capitol Police
The federal police force that protects Congress, its members, and the Capitol complex