Final answer:
The legislative tax authority refers to Congress, which consists of the Senate and the House of Representatives, as well as supporting offices like the GAO and the Library of Congress, that create and revise tax laws and oversee the collection and appropriation of tax revenue.
Step-by-step explanation:
The legislative tax authority consists of various components. Article I, Section 1 of the U.S. Constitution specifies that the legislative branch consists of the Senate and the House of Representatives, collectively known as Congress. These bodies have the power to write laws, including those involving raising revenue through taxation, and to appropriate funds for governmental departments and agencies.
The Congressional offices such as the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO), the government printing office, and the Library of Congress also play significant roles in the legislative process. The GAO, often called the "congressional watchdog," investigates federal spending, while the Library of Congress serves as a research arm and policy think tank for Congress. Legislative bodies on the state level may operate differently, with varying structures and functions, but they still hold the authority to create tax laws and revise them according to the social and economic goals of the administration.
Tax laws and structures are adapted and revised by legislators to reflect current issues and goals, possibly leading to the introduction of value-added taxes, flat taxes, or progressive tax brackets. Limitations on the types of taxes and restrictions on exports taxes are set by the Constitution. Finally, tax collection is executed by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), while the appropriation of tax revenue is conducted through Congress.