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Justice Department

Attorney General

Why It Matters

The three strategic goals listed in the department's 2008 Citizens' Report are: prevent terrorism and promote the nation's security; prevent crime, enforce federal laws and represent the rights and interests of the American people; and ensure the fair and efficient administration of justice.

To accomplish these goals, the attorney general has at his disposal the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the U.S. Marshals Service, the Federal Bureau of Prisons, the U.S. Attorneys and dozens of other divisions that are housed both inside and outside of its Washington headquarters.

More on: Justice Department

At a Glance
History
Offices
Additional Resources

Background

At a Glance

# of Employees: 100,000+
2010 Budget: $24 billion
Address: 950 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20530-0001
Email
Web site

History

In its first session in 1789, the U.S. Congress passed the Judiciary Act of 1789, creating the position of the attorney general, whose job it is "to prosecute and conduct all suits in the Supreme Court in which the United States shall be concerned, and to give his advice and opinion upon questions of law when required by the President of the United States, or when requested by the heads of any of the departments."

The Department of Justice (DOJ) would not be officially created by Congress until 1870, but its duties have been essentially the same as those given to the attorney general shortly after the forming of the union. It is the legal office of the executive branch of the U.S. government, responsible for enforcing the laws and relied upon by the president and his agencies for legal counsel and representation in court.

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Offices

Office of the Attorney General
- Deputy Attorney General
  - Associate Attorney General
    - Antitrust Division
    - Civil Division
    - Civil Rights Division
    - Community Relations Service
    - Environment and Natural Resources Division
    - Executive Office of U.S. Trustees
    - Foreign Claims Settlement Commission
    - Office of Community Oriented Policing Services
    - Office of Dispute Resolution
    - Office of Information Policy
    - Office of Intergovernmental and Public Liaison
    - Office of Justice Programs
    - Office of Legal Counsel
    - Office of Legal Policy
    - Office of Legislative Affairs
    - Office of Public Affairs
    - Office on Violence Against Women
    - Tax Division
  - Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives
  - Criminal Division
  - Drug Enforcement Administration
  - Executive Office for Immigration Review
  - Executive Office for U.S. Attorneys
  - Federal Bureau of Investigation
  - Federal Bureau of Prisons
  - Justice Management Division
  - National Drug Intelligence Center
  - National Security Division
  - Office of Professional Responsibility
  - Office of Tribal Justice
  - Office of the Federal Detention Trustee
  - Office of the Inspector General
  - Office of the Pardon Attorney
  - Office of the Solicitor General
  - Professional Responsibility Advisory Office
  - U.S. Marshals Service
  - U.S. National Central Bureau of INTERPOL
  - U.S. Parole Commission