United States Department of Justice

This group helps follow the law.

It works in a big building. It helps keep people safe.

A long time ago, this group was very small. One person had a small job. Later, the group grew much larger.

In 1870, a new law helped it grow. This law gave the group more work. It helped them protect people's rights.

The group has many parts. Some parts help find facts. Other parts help in court.

They work hard every day. This work helps the whole land.

The United States Department of Justice helps follow federal laws. It is a big part of the government. The head of the group is the attorney general. This person reports to the president.

Long ago, the job was very small. In 1789, there was only one attorney general. This person had a small staff. Even President Abraham Lincoln had a very small team. They had only six workers.

In 1870, the group changed. President Ulysses S. Grant signed a new law. This law made the Department of Justice. It gave the group more power. The group began to protect civil rights. They fought groups that used violence to stop new laws. This work helped make the South safer.

The department has many parts. It includes the FBI. It also includes the U.S. Marshals Service. There are many groups of lawyers, too. They work on things like taxes and civil rights. The main office is in Washington, D.C. The building is named for Robert F. Kennedy. It is often called "Main Justice."

The United States Department of Justice, or DOJ, is a major part of the federal government. Its main job is to enforce federal laws and manage justice across the country. This department is similar to justice or interior ministries found in other nations. It is led by the attorney general, who is a member of the president's Cabinet. The attorney general reports directly to the president of the United States. Since February 2025, Pam Bondi has served as the attorney general.

The department is very large and has many different parts. It includes several law enforcement agencies like the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). Other agencies include the U.S. Marshals Service and the Drug Enforcement Administration. It also manages the Federal Bureau of Prisons. There are eight different divisions of lawyers within the DOJ. These lawyers handle specific tasks like civil rights, taxes, and national security. They represent the government in many different types of court cases.

History shows that the department has changed a lot over time. The office of the attorney general first started in 1789. At that time, it was a very small, part-time job. For example, Edward Bates worked as attorney general under President Abraham Lincoln. His small staff had only six people to help them. They mostly gave legal advice and handled a few cases. In 1870, the United States Congress created the formal Department of Justice. President Ulysses S. Grant signed the law that established it on June 22.

When it was first created, the DOJ had a very important mission. It worked to protect civil rights for many people. The department fought against groups that used violence to oppose new laws. In the early 1870s, the DOJ brought many members of the Ku Klux Klan to court. There were 1,000 indictments and over 550 convictions in the first few years. By 1871, there were 3,000 indictments and 600 convictions. This work helped lead to a decrease in violence in the South.

The main headquarters for the DOJ is in Washington, D.C. It is located in the Robert F. Kennedy Department of Justice Building. This building was completed in 1935 and was designed by Milton Bennett Medary. The department's seal has a Latin motto that is hard to translate. Most people believe it means the attorney general works for justice. The department is a key part of how the American legal system works today. It connects the work of the president to the work of the courts.

The United States Department of Justice, often called the DOJ, is a major executive department. Its primary role is to oversee the domestic enforcement of federal laws. It also handles the administration of justice for the United States. In other countries, this role is often filled by a ministry of justice or an interior ministry. The department is led by the United States attorney general. This person is a member of the president's Cabinet. The attorney general reports directly to the president of the United States. Since February 2025, Pam Bondi has held this position.

The DOJ is a massive organization with many different parts. It manages several major federal law enforcement agencies. These include the Federal Bureau of Investigation, also known as the FBI. It also includes the U.S. Marshals Service and the Drug Enforcement Administration. Other agencies include the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. The department also oversees the Federal Bureau of Prisons. To handle legal work, the DOJ uses eight specialized divisions of lawyers. These divisions focus on areas like Antitrust, Civil Rights, and National Security. They represent the federal government in various types of litigation.

The history of the department shows how it grew from a small office into a large bureaucracy. The office of the attorney general began in 1789 through the Judiciary Act. Originally, it was a part-time job for just one person. Early attorneys general often had to run private law practices to earn enough money. For example, Edward Bates served under President Abraham Lincoln. His office was very small and had only six staff members. They mostly provided legal opinions and handled a few Supreme Court cases. At that time, other departments handled federal courts and government claims.

A major change occurred in 1870. Following an inquiry led by Congressman William Lawrence, Congress created the formal Department of Justice. President Ulysses S. Grant signed the law on June 22, 1870. This new law gave the attorney general much more power. The attorney general could now supervise all United States attorneys. The department also took over the prosecution of all federal crimes. It also began representing the United States in all court actions. This new structure helped professionalize the legal workforce and control government patronage. The law also created the office of the Solicitor General to handle Supreme Court cases.

In its early years, the DOJ had a very urgent mission regarding civil rights. The department worked to protect the 13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments to the Constitution. It fought against domestic terrorist groups that used violence and legal battles to oppose these amendments. Specifically, the DOJ prosecuted members of the Ku Klux Klan in the early 1870s. Under leaders like Amos T. Akerman and Benjamin H. Bristow, the department was very active. In the first few years of President Grant's term, there were 1,000 indictments against Klan members. This resulted in over 550 convictions. By 1871, indictments rose to 3,000 with 600 convictions. This work helped cause a dramatic decrease in violence in the South.

Over time, the department's responsibilities continued to expand. In 1884, the DOJ took control of federal prisons from the Department of the Interior. In 1887, the Interstate Commerce Act gave the DOJ new law enforcement duties. In 1933, President Franklin D. Roosevelt issued an executive order that gave the DOJ more power. This order tasked the department with defending the government against legal claims. Following the Watergate scandal, new laws were passed to help the DOJ stay independent. These reforms were intended to protect the department from political pressure. The department's structure continues to evolve as new laws are passed.

The department is headquartered in Washington, D.C. The main building is the Robert F. Kennedy Department of Justice Building. It was completed in 1935 and was designed by Milton Bennett Medary. The building sits on a large lot near Constitution and Pennsylvania Avenues. The DOJ seal features a Latin motto: "Qui Pro Domina Justitia Sequitur." While the exact origin of the motto is debated, many believe it means the attorney general prosecutes on behalf of justice. A similar English inscription is found in the building's ceremonial rotunda. This inscription says that the United States wins when justice is done to its citizens. This reflects the department's core connection to the American legal system.