Look up the standards and rules for financial reporting in Accounting Research Manager (from CCH).  This database provides access to the authoritative literature from all of the bodies listed and linked below. 

It also provides analysis and interpretation (written by CCH editorial staff) of the material originating from these bodies. 

For the field of accounting, how are the standards decided upon?

Below are some notes and links to information on the processes in the main organizations, or bodies, that produce rules and standards for the accounting field.

• AICPA (American Institute of Certified Public Accountants):  they develop and maintain standards in many areas of accounting and auditing practice -- click here for more.
• EITF (Emerging Issues Task Force) is the de facto standards-setting body of the FASB (Financial Accounting Standards Board) -- more about EITF's operating procedures.
• IASB (International Accounting Standards Board; part of the IFRS Foundation, or International Financial Reporting Standards).  This organization has a very nice set of pages outlining their whole standard-setting process.
• SEC (Securities and Exchange Commission):  here's more on the SEC's "rulemaking activity".  The SEC also has some oversight over the PCAOB (Public Company Accountability Oversight Board, the body that resulted from the Sarbanes-Oxley law) and its rulemaking.