Chapter 3 What Agency Am I?

Criminal Law
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I represent the United States, its departments and agencies, members of Congress, cabinet officers, and other federal employees. My litigation involves the defense of challenges to presidential actions; national security issues; benefit programs; energy policies; commercial issues such as contract disputes, banking insurance, patents, fraud, and debt collection; all manner of accident and liability claims; and criminal violations of the immigration and consumer protection laws. I confront significant policy issues, which often rise to constitutional dimensions, in defending and enforcing various federal programs and actions.

I am the office of the chief law enforcement officer of the federal government. This law enforcement officer represents the United States in general legal matters and advises the president and heads of executive government departments when requested. He or she also represents the government before the U.S. Supreme Court in cases of exceptional gravity or importance.

My attorneys serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the attorney general. There are 93 U.S. Attorneys stationed throughout the United States, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Guam, and the Northern Mariana Islands. The attorneys prosecute criminal cases brought by the federal government, prosecute and defend civil cases in which the United States is a party, and collect debts owed the federal government.

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