B. Congressional Budget Office (CBO)

Congress must maintain an office of experts in legislative drafting and statutory interpretation. It will prepare bills, amendments, and legal opinions at the request of any Member or committee.

There are some crucial points in this clause. First, the words “independent” and “nonpartisan.” The CBO is responsible for the truth, not a party or a majority. Second, the requirement that their reports and data are released without amendment or external review is essential. Nobody in Congress gets to shade or manipulate the data before the American people can see it.