Which act requires the Congressional Budget Office to provide cost information about proposed government orders that exceed a specified threshold before Congress can consider the bill?

• A. Unfunded Mandates Reform Act
• B. Budget Transparency Act
• C. Cost Analysis Act
• D. Federalism and Administration Act

Answer: (A)

This question tests understanding of a law that ensures budget scrutiny of mandates on other governments before Congress acts. The Unfunded Mandates Reform Act requires the Congressional Budget Office to prepare and provide a cost estimate for any proposed government order that would impose significant costs on state, local, or tribal governments (and sometimes on the private sector) if those costs exceed a set threshold. This up-front cost information helps lawmakers see the fiscal impact of a bill before they consider it, making it harder to approve mandates that shift funding responsibilities without actually funding them. The other options don’t establish this specific requirement for cost estimates of unfunded mandates, so the act described here is the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act.