Simone Lawson
The Department of Justice (DOJ) is an executive department of the United States government, formed in 1870 to assist the president and Cabinet in matters concerning the law and to prosecute US Supreme Court cases for the federal government. The DOJ enforces federal laws, seeks just punishment for the guilty, and ensures the fair and impartial administration of justice. The Attorney General is the head of the DOJ and its chief law enforcement officer. The current US Attorney General is Pam Bondi.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Year of Formation | 1870 |
| Formation Date | June 22, 1870 |
| Formation Approved By | President Ulysses S. Grant |
| Formation Statute | "An Act to establish the Department of Justice" (16 Stat. 162) |
| Formation Statute Description | "an executive department of the government of the United States . . . of which the Attorney-General shall be the head" |
| Functions | Enforces federal laws, seeks just punishment for the guilty, ensures the fair and impartial administration of justice, defends national interests, ensures public safety against domestic and foreign threats, provides federal leadership in preventing and controlling crime |
| Headquarters | Washington, DC |
| Number of Component Organizations | Approximately 40 |
| Number of Employees | Approximately 116,000 |
| Office of the Attorney General | Formed under the Judiciary Act of 1789 |
| Office of the Attorney General Description | Advises the president on law and to prosecute cases in the Supreme Court |
| Agencies Under the DOJ | Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), U.S. Marshals Service, Bureau of Prisons, Interpol Washington, Executive Office for Immigration Review, Board of Immigration Appeals, Office of Domestic Preparedness, Bureau of Justice Assistance, Bureau of Justice Statistics, National Institute of Justice, Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention |
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What You'll Learn
The Department of Justice's history
The Department of Justice (DOJ) is a United States executive department formed in 1789 to assist the president and Cabinet in matters concerning the law and to prosecute U.S. Supreme Court cases for the federal government. The DOJ comprises approximately 40 separate component organizations with approximately 116,000 employees. The DOJ's headquarters are in Washington, DC, and the Department conducts most of its work through field locations nationwide and others that are overseas.
The office of the attorney general was established by the Judiciary Act of 1789 as a part-time job for one person, but it grew with the bureaucracy. At one time, the attorney general gave legal advice to the U.S. Congress, as well as the president; however, in 1819, the attorney general began advising Congress alone to ensure a manageable workload. In 1830 and 1846, there were unsuccessful efforts to make the attorney general a full-time job.
On February 19, 1868, Congressman William Lawrence introduced a bill in Congress to create the Department of Justice. On June 22, 1870, President Ulysses S. Grant signed the bill into law. Grant appointed Amos T. Akerman as attorney general and Benjamin H. Bristow as America's first solicitor general the same week that Congress created the Department of Justice. The Department's immediate function was to preserve civil rights and it set about fighting against domestic terrorist groups who had been using both violence and litigation to oppose the 13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments to the Constitution. Akerman and Bristow vigorously prosecuted members of the Ku Klux Klan in the early 1870s.
In 1884, control of federal prisons was transferred to the new department, from the Department of the Interior. New facilities were built, including the penitentiary at Leavenworth in 1895, and a facility for women located in West Virginia, at Alderson, was established in 1924. In 1933, President Franklin D. Roosevelt issued an executive order that gave the Department of Justice responsibility for prosecuting and defending claims and demands by and against the government of the United States, as well as supervising the work of U.S. attorneys, marshals, and clerks. The DOJ building was completed in 1935.
Several federal law enforcement agencies are administered by the Department of Justice, including the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the U.S. Marshals Service, the Bureau of Prisons, and Interpol Washington. The DOJ enforces the law and defends national interests according to the law, ensures public safety against domestic and foreign threats, provides federal leadership in preventing and controlling crime, seeks just punishment for those who have behaved unlawfully, and ensures fair and impartial administration of justice for all American citizens.
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The Attorney General's role
The Attorney General is the head of the Department of Justice and the chief law enforcement officer of the federal government. The Attorney General acts as the principal legal advisor to the President of the United States on all legal matters and is a statutory member of the Cabinet of the United States and the National Security Council.
Additionally, the Attorney General advises the President on appointments to federal judicial positions and Department of Justice roles, including U.S. Attorneys and U.S. Marshals. They also supervise federal penitentiaries and administer the Federal Witness Protection Program. The Attorney General is responsible for managing legal issues involving public safety, civil rights, and national security, and communicating legal concerns to Congress.
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The Department's agencies and bureaus
The Department of Justice (DOJ) comprises approximately 40 separate component organisations with approximately 116,000 employees. The DOJ's headquarters are in Washington, DC, and the department conducts most of its work through field locations nationwide and others that are overseas.
The Department of Justice enforces federal laws, seeks just punishment for the guilty, and ensures the fair and impartial administration of justice. It was established to preserve civil rights and protect against domestic terrorist groups who opposed the 13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments to the Constitution. The DOJ also had a War Division during World War II, created in 1942 and disestablished in 1945.
Several federal law enforcement agencies are administered by the DOJ, including the United States Marshals Service (USMS), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP). The USMS was established as an agency in 1969 and was elevated to full bureau status under the Justice Department in 1974. The FBI was established in 1908 as a small investigative force within the Justice Department, and the BOP was created by the Three Prisons Act of 1891.
Other agencies and bureaus within the DOJ include the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Executive Office for Immigration Review, and the Board of Immigration Appeals. The DOJ also includes the Office of Justice Programs (OJP), which is comprised of bureaus such as the Bureau of Justice Assistance, the Bureau of Justice Statistics, and the National Institute of Justice.
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The Department's responsibilities
The Department of Justice (DOJ) is a major government department that was established in 1870 during the presidency of Ulysses S. Grant. It is headquartered at the Robert F. Kennedy Building in Washington, D.C. and has field offices in all states and territories across the United States and in over 50 countries worldwide. The DOJ is composed of more than 40 separate component organizations and has over 115,000 employees.
The DOJ's mission is to uphold the rule of law, keep the country safe, and protect civil rights. It works to ensure public safety against domestic and foreign threats, provide federal leadership in preventing and controlling crime, and seek just punishment for those who break the law. The department also seeks to ensure fair and impartial justice administration for all American citizens.
The DOJ has a wide range of responsibilities, including:
- Law enforcement: The DOJ is responsible for enforcing federal laws and has several federal law enforcement agencies under its administration, including the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the United States Marshals Service (USMS), and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).
- Prisons: The DOJ oversees the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP), which manages the federal prison system. This includes the establishment of new facilities and the management of inmate records through the National Institute of Corrections (NIC).
- Immigration: The Executive Office for Immigration Review and the Board of Immigration Appeals, which review decisions made under Immigration and Nationality law, fall under the jurisdiction of the DOJ.
- National security: The DOJ works to protect national security and defend against domestic and foreign threats. It also seeks to prevent and control crime, including violent and drug-related crimes.
- Civil rights: The DOJ is committed to protecting civil rights and ensuring fair and equal treatment for all citizens.
- Youth justice: The Youth Justice Agency (YJA), an executive agency of the DOJ, works to prevent offending by children and young people through community-based interventions, youth conferencing, and providing custody where necessary.
- Policing: The DOJ has powers relating to devolved policing functions and works with other government departments and agencies to bring justice to life for everyone in society.
- Scientific advice: The Forensic Science Agency (FSNI), an executive agency of the DOJ, provides scientific advice and support to enhance the delivery of justice.
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The Department's headquarters and employees
The United States Department of Justice (DOJ), also known as the Justice Department, is a federal executive department of the US government that oversees the domestic enforcement of federal laws and the administration of justice. The department is headquartered in a building in Washington, D.C., which was completed in 1935 and holds over 1,000,000 square feet of space. The building is referred to as "Main Justice" and was renamed in 2001 to honour former Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy.
The Department of Justice was created in 1870 during the presidency of Ulysses S. Grant. Its functions, however, date back to 1789 when the Judiciary Act established the office of the Attorney General. The Attorney General was initially a part-time position, but over time, the role evolved into a full-time position with expanded responsibilities. The Attorney General is the head of the Department of Justice and the chief law enforcement officer of the federal government. They represent the United States in legal matters, advise the President and executive department heads, and appear before the Supreme Court in matters of exceptional importance.
The Department of Justice has a significant role in law enforcement and the administration of justice. It contains most of the United States' federal law enforcement agencies, including the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the United States Marshals Service, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Federal Bureau of Prisons. The department also has a hand in immigration matters, with the Executive Office for Immigration Review and the Board of Immigration Appeals falling under its jurisdiction.
The Department of Justice has a long history of fighting against domestic terrorist groups and upholding civil rights. In the early 1870s, during President Grant's first term, the department vigorously prosecuted members of the Ku Klux Klan, resulting in a significant decrease in violence in the South. The department also played a role during World War II, with the creation of a War Division from 1942 to 1945.
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Frequently asked questions
The Attorney General is the head of the Department of Justice. The current Attorney General and Secretary of the Department of Justice is Pam Bondi.
The Department of Justice enforces federal laws, seeks just punishment for the guilty, and ensures the fair and impartial administration of justice.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the US Marshals Service, the Bureau of Prisons, and Interpol Washington.
The Department of Justice was established in 1870 by the 41st United States Congress during the presidency of Ulysses S. Grant.
The Department of Justice comprises approximately 40 separate component organizations with approximately 116,000 employees.
