Formed under the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934 the SEC (Securities and Exchange Commission) is a government agency that administers important acts dealing with the interstate sale of securities (stocks and bonds). The Securities and Exchange Commission has the authority to prescribe accounting and reporting practices for companies under its jurisdiction. This comprises virtually every major US business corporation. In its place of exercising this power the Securities and Exchange Commission has adopted a policy of working closely with the accounting profession especially the FASB in the development of accounting standards. The Securities and Exchange Commission indicates to the FASB the accounting topics it believes the FASB should address.