The E-Government Act of 2002
by Jeffrey L. Schildkraut

Originally Posted: February 26, 2003

The Electronic Government Act of 2002 was signed into law on December 17, 2002. "Electronic Government" is defined as the Government use of "web-based Internet applications or other information technology to enhance the access to and delivery of government information and services to the public, other agencies, and other Government entities; or to bring about improvements in Government operations that may include effectiveness, efficiency, service quality, or transformation." The E-Government Act of 2002 establishes a new agency within the Office of Management and Budget, the Office of Electronic Government, which will be responsible for electronic information management and for promoting interagency cooperation to improve public services.

The act creates a Chief Information Council that will work with other Federal agencies and State and local governments to help develop electronic technology policies, requirements, and strategies. An E-Government Fund was also established to provide funding for projects intended to allow for easier public access to information, improved government services and transactions, and enhanced agency information technology project coordination and planning.

The Office of Electronic Government will co-administer the E-Government fund (along with GSA) to implement electronic government initiatives and provide money for interagency electronic technology projects. The agency is also responsible for developing and promoting solutions to allow the "integrated delivery" of government services electronically. Under this act, government services could eventually be searched for by function or topic, rather than by separate agency or department.

Other anticipated benefits include improved government performance by organizing electronic information technology for uses such as procurement, recruitment, and workforce development. The new legislation specifically authorizes funding for the use of electronic signatures and Federal portal (Firstgov.gov) improvements, and it requires regulatory agencies and courts to establish websites to post actions, judgements, and judicial rulings. The Office of Electronic Government will establish information resource policies and review the performance of each agency to manage electronic technology. The agency also will help identify information technology opportunities to improve the efficiency of government-to-business transactions.

Source: "E-Government Act of 2002," Public Law 107-347, December 17, 2002, on the Internet at http://www.access.gpo.gov/, visited February 25, 2003.