Eleanor Finch
The Department of Justice (DOJ) is a federal law enforcement agency in the United States. It was created in 1870 by the U.S. Congress during the Ulysses S. Grant administration. The DOJ's mission is to enforce federal laws, uphold the rule of law, protect civil rights, and defend the interests of the United States. It is composed of multiple components and agencies, including the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP), and is led by the Attorney General of the United States. While the DOJ's functions originally date back to 1789 with the creation of the office of the Attorney General, the specific mention of the Department of Justice is not explicitly stated in the US Constitution.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Year of creation | 1870 |
| Creator | U.S. Congress |
| Headquarters | Robert F. Kennedy Building in Washington, D.C. |
| Number of employees | More than 115,000 |
| Number of component organizations | More than 40 |
| Mission | To enforce the law and defend the interests of the United States according to the law; to ensure public safety against threats foreign and domestic; to provide federal leadership in preventing and controlling crime; to seek just punishment for those guilty of unlawful behavior; and to ensure fair and impartial administration of justice for all Americans |
| Motto | "THE UNITED STATES WINS ITS POINT WHENEVER JUSTICE IS DONE ITS CITIZENS IN THE COURTS" |
| Agencies | Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP), National Institute of Corrections (NIC), United States Marshals Service (USMS) |
| Checks and balances | The Senate must confirm a category of so-called principal officers after the President nominates them |
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What You'll Learn
The Department of Justice's mission
The Department of Justice (DOJ) was created by the U.S. Congress in 1870 during the Ulysses S. Grant administration. Its original function was to preserve civil rights and fight against domestic terrorist groups who opposed the 13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments to the Constitution.
The DOJ's mission is to enforce the law and defend the interests of the United States according to the law. This includes upholding the rule of law, keeping the country safe, and protecting civil rights. The DOJ works to earn the public's trust by following the facts and the law without prejudice or improper influence. It prioritises independence and impartiality in its work.
The Department of Justice seeks to ensure public safety against foreign and domestic threats and provide federal leadership in preventing and controlling crime. It also aims to seek just punishment for those guilty of unlawful behaviour and ensure a fair and impartial administration of justice for all Americans.
The DOJ is composed of more than 40 separate component organisations and over 115,000 employees. It has field offices in all U.S. states and territories and in more than 50 countries worldwide. The DOJ includes agencies such as the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP), and the National Institute of Corrections (NIC). It also houses the Religious Liberty Commission, which works to secure domestic and international religious liberty.
Overall, the Department of Justice's mission is to uphold the law, protect civil rights, ensure public safety, and provide fair and impartial justice for all Americans. It works to earn the public's trust and inspire confidence in the U.S. government through its dedication to independence, integrity, respect, and excellence in its service to the nation.
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The Department of Justice's history
The Department of Justice (DOJ) was created in 1870 during the Ulysses S. Grant administration. Its functions date back to 1789, when the Judiciary Act established the office of the Attorney General as a part-time position. The Attorney General initially provided legal advice to Congress and the President, but from 1819 onwards, they advised Congress alone.
In 1830 and 1846, there were unsuccessful attempts to make the attorney general a full-time role. In 1867, the U.S. House Committee on the Judiciary, led by Congressman William Lawrence, conducted an inquiry into the creation of a "law department" headed by the attorney general. On February 19, 1868, Lawrence introduced a bill in Congress to create the Department of Justice, which was signed into law by President Grant on June 22, 1870. The "Act to Establish the Department of Justice" greatly increased the attorney general's responsibilities, including the supervision of all U.S. attorneys, the prosecution of federal crimes, and the representation of the United States in court actions.
The Department of Justice's immediate function was to preserve civil rights and fight against domestic terrorist groups opposing the 13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments to the Constitution, specifically the Ku Klux Klan. During Grant's first term, there were 1,000 indictments and over 550 convictions against Klan members. By 1871, there were 3,000 indictments and 600 convictions, with ringleaders serving up to five years in prison.
The Department of Justice also played a role during World War II, with the creation of a War Division from 1942 to 1945. In 1933, President Franklin D. Roosevelt issued an executive order giving the DOJ responsibility for prosecuting and defending claims and demands by and against the U.S. government. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) was established within the DOJ in 1908 as a small investigative force, and the Federal Bureau of Prisons was created in 1930.
Today, the Department of Justice, led by the Attorney General, is composed of over 40 separate organizations and more than 115,000 employees. It has field offices in all U.S. states and territories and in over 50 countries worldwide. The DOJ's mission is to uphold the rule of law, protect civil rights, and keep the country safe.
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The Department of Justice's structure
The Department of Justice (DOJ) was created in 1870 during the Ulysses S. Grant administration. The immediate function of the DOJ was to preserve civil rights and fight against domestic terrorist groups who were using violence and litigation to oppose the 13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments to the Constitution. The DOJ enforces federal laws, seeks just punishment for the guilty, and ensures the fair and impartial administration of justice. The DOJ is led by the Attorney General of the United States and is composed of more than 40 separate component organisations and more than 115,000 employees. The Attorney General's office is located in the Robert F. Kennedy Building in Washington, D.C., and the DOJ maintains field offices in all states and territories across the United States and in more than 50 countries worldwide.
The DOJ consists of multiple agencies and components dedicated to upholding its mission, including the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP), and the National Institute of Corrections (NIC). The FBI was established in 1908 as a small investigative force within the DOJ and was officially named the Bureau of Investigation in 1909. The BOP was created by the Three Prisons Act of 1891, and the NIC was founded in 1974 under the Federal Bureau of Prisons. The DOJ also had a War Division, which was created during World War II and disestablished in 1945.
Several federal law enforcement agencies are administered by the DOJ, including the United States Marshals Service (USMS). The USMS was established by the Judiciary Act of 1789, along with the office of the Attorney General. The Attorney General was initially a part-time position for one person, but the role grew with the bureaucracy. At one time, the Attorney General gave legal advice to Congress and the President, but in 1819, the Attorney General began advising Congress alone to manage their workload. The DOJ is responsible for prosecuting crimes, representing the United States in court actions, and supervising the work of United States attorneys, marshals, and clerks.
The mission of the DOJ is to uphold the rule of law, keep the country safe, and protect civil rights. The DOJ strives to earn the public's trust by following the facts and the law without prejudice or improper influence. Employees of the DOJ adhere to high standards of ethical behaviour and treat everyone with fairness, dignity, and compassion. The DOJ works to provide the highest level of service to the American people and be responsible stewards of taxpayer dollars.
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The Department of Justice's role in fighting terrorism
The Department of Justice (DOJ) was created in 1870 during the Ulysses S. Grant administration to preserve civil rights and fight against domestic terrorist groups that used violence and litigation to oppose the 13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments to the Constitution. The DOJ enforces federal laws, seeks just punishment for the guilty, and ensures the fair and impartial administration of justice.
The DOJ has increased its partnerships at every level of government in the United States and has forged strong ties with its international counterparts to address terrorist networks operating worldwide. They have also created Anti-Terrorism Advisory Councils in each U.S. Attorney's Office to enhance information sharing with state and local authorities and increased the number of Joint Terrorism Task Forces (JTTFs) and personnel.
The DOJ also plays a crucial role in protecting judges, witnesses, and other participants in federal proceedings by anticipating, deterring, and investigating threats of violence. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), a division of the DOJ, is committed to remaining agile in its approach to the evolving terrorism threat. The FBI works closely with local and international offices and has guidelines in place for initiating investigations. Additionally, the DOJ has expanded its international presence by increasing the number of FBI Legal Attaché offices and overseas personnel to target and dismantle terrorist enterprises globally.
The DOJ recognizes the growing threat of cyber-enabled terrorism and is dedicated to identifying and pursuing cyber threat actors. They aim to disrupt computer intrusion programs and resolve national security and criminal cyber cases to safeguard sensitive data and protect against potential cyber-attacks by terrorist organizations.
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The Department of Justice's cyber security efforts
The Department of Justice (DOJ) was created in 1870 by the U.S. Congress during the Ulysses S. Grant administration. The DOJ enforces federal laws, seeks just punishment for the guilty, and ensures the fair and impartial administration of justice. It is composed of more than 40 separate component organizations and over 115,000 employees. The DOJ is headquartered in Washington, D.C., and maintains field offices in all U.S. states and territories and in over 50 countries worldwide.
The DOJ has been actively involved in cyber security efforts to protect Americans' sensitive data from foreign adversaries. The National Security Division (NSD) implemented the Data Security Program (DSP) to prevent countries like China, Russia, and Iran from exploiting commercial activities to access U.S. government data and Americans' personal information. The DSP establishes export controls and provides guidance to individuals and companies to ensure compliance with its prohibitions and restrictions.
The DOJ also provides a holistic catalog of cybersecurity shared services, offering industry-leading technology and a team of experts to integrate advanced threat intelligence. The JETS service, for example, helps meet the requirements of Executive Order 14028 and OMB Memo M-22-09. Additionally, the Cybersecurity Assessment and Management (CSAM) automates inventory tracking, assessments, and authorizations under the Federal Information Security Modernization Act (FISMA).
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), a part of the DOJ, plays a crucial role in cyber security. The FBI has cyber squads in its 56 field offices and a rapid-response Cyber Action Team that can deploy quickly to respond to major incidents. They work with international counterparts and utilize innovative techniques and analytic tools to combat evolving cyber threats. The FBI's goal is to impose risk and consequences on cyber adversaries, aiming to change the behavior of criminals and nations compromising U.S. networks.
The DOJ and its components, including the NSD and FBI, are committed to protecting Americans' data, enforcing federal laws, and ensuring national security in the digital domain. These cyber security efforts are vital to safeguarding the country and its citizens in an increasingly connected world.
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Frequently asked questions
The Department of Justice is not mentioned in the Constitution. It was created by Congress in 1870 during the Ulysses S. Grant administration.
The Department of Justice's mission is to enforce the law and defend the interests of the United States, ensure public safety, provide federal leadership in preventing and controlling crime, seek just punishment for those guilty of unlawful behaviour, and ensure fair and impartial administration of justice for all Americans.
Some of the agencies administered by the Department of Justice include the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP), and the National Institute of Corrections (NIC).
