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United States Department of Justice
Seal of the United States Department of Justice.svg
Seal of the U.S. Department of Justice
Flag of the United States Department of Justice.svg
Flag of the U.S. Department of Justice
U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) (53840386529).jpg
The Robert F. Kennedy Building is the headquarters of the U.S. Department of Justice. (2024)
Agency overview
Formed July 1, 1870; 155 years ago (1870-07-01)
Type Executive department
Jurisdiction U.S. federal government
Headquarters Robert F. Kennedy Department of Justice Building
950 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, D.C., United States
38°53′36″N 77°1′30″W / 38.89333°N 77.02500°W / 38.89333; -77.02500
Motto "Qui Pro Domina Justitia Sequitur" (Latin: "Who prosecutes on behalf of justice (or the Lady Justice)")
Employees 113,114 (2019)
Annual budget $37.52 billion (FY 2024)
Agency executives

The United States Department of Justice (DoJ), also known as the Justice Department, is a part of the U.S. government. Its main job is to make sure federal laws are followed and that justice is carried out across the country. It's like the "Ministry of Justice" you might find in other countries.

The person in charge of the Justice Department is called the U.S. Attorney General. This person works directly for the president of the United States and is a member of the president's main team, called the Cabinet. As of July 2025, Merrick Garland serves as the U.S. Attorney General.

The Justice Department includes most of the United States' main federal law enforcement agencies. These include the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the U.S. Marshals Service, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and the Federal Bureau of Prisons. The department also has many lawyers who represent the government in court cases.

The U.S. Congress officially created the Justice Department in 1870. However, its work began much earlier, in 1789, when the job of Attorney General was first created.

Understanding the Justice Department's Role

The Justice Department is a very important part of how the U.S. government works. It helps keep people safe and makes sure laws are applied fairly.

What Does the Justice Department Do?

The Justice Department has several key responsibilities:

  • Enforcing Federal Laws: This means making sure people and groups follow laws that apply across the entire country.
  • Representing the U.S. Government: Its lawyers go to court to defend the government or bring cases on its behalf.
  • Leading Law Enforcement: Many major federal police agencies are part of the Justice Department.
  • Protecting Civil Rights: It works to ensure that everyone's basic rights are protected under the law.

How the Justice Department Started

The idea of having a top lawyer for the government began in 1789. This person, the Attorney General, gave legal advice to the president and Congress.

Early Days of the Attorney General

At first, being the Attorney General was a part-time job. The person holding the job often had their own private law practice to earn more money. Over time, the job became bigger and more important.

For example, Edward Bates was Attorney General under President Abraham Lincoln. He had a small team, and their main job was to give legal advice when asked. They also handled a few cases in the Supreme Court.

Creating the Department of Justice

People realized that the government needed a full-time legal department. In 1867, a group in Congress started looking into creating a "law department."

On June 22, 1870, President Ulysses S. Grant signed a bill into law. This bill officially created the Department of Justice.

New Responsibilities for the Department

With the new department, the Attorney General's job grew a lot. They became responsible for:

  • Overseeing all U.S. attorneys across the country.
  • Handling all federal crime cases.
  • Representing the United States in all court cases.

The new law also created the job of Solicitor General. This person's job is to manage and argue government cases in the Supreme Court of the United States.

Fighting for Civil Rights

One of the first big tasks for the new Justice Department was to protect civil rights. This was especially important after the American Civil War.

Protecting Rights in the 1870s

The department worked hard to fight against groups that used violence to oppose new laws. These laws, like the 13th, 14th, and 15th Amendment, gave more rights to all citizens.

Thomas Nast 1874
Thomas Nast illustration from 1874, showing the Justice Department stopping violence.

In the early 1870s, the Justice Department successfully prosecuted many members of groups like the Ku Klux Klan. This led to a big drop in violence in the Southern states.

Expanding Responsibilities and Prisons

As the country grew, so did the Justice Department's duties.

  • In 1887, it took on more law enforcement tasks related to trade between states.
  • In 1884, the department became responsible for federal prisons. New prisons were built, like the one in Leavenworth.
  • In 1933, President Franklin D. Roosevelt gave the department even more power. It became responsible for handling all court cases for and against the U.S. government.

Where the Justice Department Works

The main building for the U.S. Department of Justice is in Washington, D.C. It's a very large building completed in 1935.

The Robert F. Kennedy Building

The building is located between Constitution and Pennsylvania Avenues. It has over 1 million square feet of space! In 2001, it was renamed the Robert F. Kennedy Department of Justice Building to honor a former Attorney General.

The Department's Motto

The Justice Department's official seal has a Latin motto: Qui Pro Domina Justitia Sequitur. This means "Who prosecutes on behalf of justice (or the Lady Justice)." It shows that the department's goal is to serve justice itself.

How the Justice Department is Organized

The Justice Department is made up of many different offices, divisions, and agencies. They all work together to carry out the department's mission.

Oc-doj
Organizational chart for the Department of Justice (click to enlarge)

Main Leaders

Key Divisions

The Justice Department has several divisions, each focusing on a specific area of law:

  • Antitrust Division: Deals with fair competition in business.
  • Civil Division: Handles lawsuits involving the government.
  • Civil Rights Division: Protects the civil rights of all Americans.
  • Criminal Division: Focuses on federal criminal cases.
  • Environment and Natural Resources Division: Works on environmental laws and natural resources.
  • National Security Division: Deals with threats to national security.
  • Tax Division: Handles cases related to taxes.

Federal Law Enforcement Agencies

Many well-known federal law enforcement agencies are part of the Justice Department:

Other Important Offices

The Justice Department also has many other offices that handle specific tasks, such as:

  • Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR): Handles immigration court cases.
  • Office of Justice Programs (OJP): Provides grants and support for state and local justice programs.
  • Office of Legal Counsel (OLC): Gives legal advice to the President and executive branch agencies.
  • Office of Public Affairs: Communicates with the public and the media.
  • Office on Violence Against Women (OVW): Works to prevent violence against women.

Finances and Budget

The Justice Department receives a large budget from Congress to carry out its many duties. This money helps fund law enforcement, court cases, prisons, and grants for local programs.

Budget Summary
Program FY 2022 (millions) FY 2023 (millions) FY 2024 proposed (millions)
Law Enforcement $19,286 $20,543 $21,292
Litigation 1,552 1,752 2,091
Admin/Technology/Other 880 652 2,009
Prisons and Detention 10,223 10,802 9,988
State and Local Grants $3,630 $4,195 $4,912
ATR and USTP Fees (551) (459) (556)
Total, Discretionary BA with Fees $35,020 $37,485 $39,736

Images for kids

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Departamento de Justicia de los Estados Unidos para niños

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