§ 501. Executive department
The Department of Justice is an executive de-
partment of the United States at the seat of
Government.
(Added Pub. L. 89–554, § 4(c), Sept. 6, 1966, 80 Stat.
611.)
HISTORICAL AND REVISION NOTES
Derivation
U.S. Code
Revised Statutes and
Statutes at Large
.....................
5 U.S.C. 291 (less
last 10 words).
R.S. § 346 (less last 10 words).
The words ‘‘There shall be’’, referring to the estab-
lishment of the Department, are omitted as executed.
Editorial Notes
PRIOR PROVISIONS
A prior section 501, acts June 25, 1948, ch. 646, 62 Stat.
909; Mar. 18, 1959, Pub. L. 86–3, § 11(a), 73 Stat. 9, related
to appointment of United States attorneys, prior to re-
peal by Pub. L. 89–554, § 8(a), and reenactment in sec-
tion 541 of this title by section 4(c) of Pub. L. 89–554.
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
SERVICEMEMBERS AND VETERANS INITIATIVE
Pub. L. 116–288, Jan. 5, 2021, 134 Stat. 4884, provided
that:
‘‘SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
‘‘This Act may be cited as the ‘Servicemembers and
Veterans Initiative Act of 2020’.
‘‘SEC. 2. SERVICEMEMBERS AND VETERANS INI-
TIATIVE.
‘‘(a)
ESTABLISHMENT.—There
is
established
the
Servicemembers and Veterans Initiative within the
Civil Rights Division of the Department of Justice.
‘‘(b) DUTIES.—The Servicemembers and Veterans Ini-
tiative shall—
‘‘(1) serve as legal and policy advisor to the Attor-
ney General on the Department of Justice’s efforts to
enforce
criminal
and
civil
laws
that
impact
servicemembers, veterans, and their families;
‘‘(2) develop policy recommendations for the Attor-
ney General on how the Department of Justice may
improve enforcement of Federal law to support
servicemembers, veterans, and their families;
‘‘(3) serve as the liaison and point of contact
File SHA-256: 256dbe0df4a0b38e8bc8e50569dcbc29549dfe923e31bfa626e3a2814536f70c. The original may include catalog metadata, neighboring provisions, or embedded records outside this collection's scope. This page displays the selected federal record. Historical editions and unverified snapshots are not a statement of current law.
Authority boundary: historical or unconfirmed source not current law verified.
Stable record: federal_law:legal_authorities:uscode2024_15342491d18afda08d638043 Source file: Laws/federal/codes/united-states-code-2024/title-28/section-501-executive-department--6f9db4d15b.md Pages: Not recorded – Not recorded Passage SHA-256: fb4af13eb681d22425d2efe39c4831a94f908ae21e5a6ac5f743ab3e46dfcead Retained source evidence SHA-256: 256dbe0df4a0b38e8bc8e50569dcbc29549dfe923e31bfa626e3a2814536f70c
Page 169
TITLE 28—JUDICIARY AND JUDICIAL PROCEDURE
§ 502
1983—Pub. L. 98–86, § 2, Aug. 26, 1983, 97 Stat. 492,
added item 530.
1982—Pub. L. 97–258, § 2(g)(1)(A), Sept. 13, 1982, 96 Stat.
1060, substituted ‘‘Availability of appropriations’’ for
‘‘Appropriations for administrative expenses; notarial
fees; meals and lodging of bailiffs’’ in item 524.
Pub. L. 97–164, title I, § 118(b), Apr. 2, 1982, 96 Stat. 33,
substituted ‘‘United States Claims Court or in United
States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit’’ for
‘‘Court of Claims’’ in item 520.
1978—Pub. L. 95–598, title II, § 219(c), Nov. 6, 1978, 92
Stat. 2662, inserted reference to trustees in item 526.
Pub. L. 95–521, title VI, § 603(b), Oct. 26, 1978, 92 Stat.
1875, added items 528 and 529.
1977—Pub. L. 95–139, § 1(b), Oct. 19, 1977, 91 Stat. 1171,
added item 504a.
1975—Pub. L. 93–613, § 1(2), Jan. 2, 1975, 88 Stat. 1975,
added item 527.
1966—Pub. L. 89–554, § 4(c), Sept. 6, 1966, 80 Stat. 611,
substituted
‘‘THE
ATTORNEY
GENERAL’’
for
‘‘UNITED STATES ATTORNEYS’’ in chapter heading,
‘‘Executive Department’’ for ‘‘Appointment of United
States attorneys’’ in item 501, ‘‘Seal’’ for ‘‘Appoint-
ment of assistant United States attorneys’’ in item 502,
‘‘Attorney General’’ for ‘‘Appointment of attorneys’’ in
item 503, ‘‘Deputy Attorney General’’ for ‘‘Tenure and
oath of office; removal’’ in item 504, ‘‘Solicitor Gen-
eral’’ for ‘‘Residence’’ in item 505, ‘‘Assistant Attorney
General’’ for ‘‘Vacancies’’ in item 506, ‘‘Assistant At-
torney General for Administration’’ for ‘‘Duties; super-
vision by Attorney General’’ in item 507, ‘‘Vacancies’’
for ‘‘Salaries’’ in item 508, ‘‘Functions of the Attorney
General’’ for ‘‘Expenses’’ in item 509, ‘‘Delegation of au-
thority’’ for ‘‘Clerical assistants and messengers’’ in
item 510, and added items 511 to 526.
§ 501. Executive department
The Department of Justice is an executive de-
partment of the United States at the seat of
Government.
(Added Pub. L. 89–554, § 4(c), Sept. 6, 1966, 80 Stat.
611.)
HISTORICAL AND REVISION NOTES
Derivation
U.S. Code
Revised Statutes and
Statutes at Large
.....................
5 U.S.C. 291 (less
last 10 words).
R.S. § 346 (less last 10 words).
The words ‘‘There shall be’’, referring to the estab-
lishment of the Department, are omitted as executed.
Editorial Notes
PRIOR PROVISIONS
A prior section 501, acts June 25, 1948, ch. 646, 62 Stat.
909; Mar. 18, 1959, Pub. L. 86–3, § 11(a), 73 Stat. 9, related
to appointment of United States attorneys, prior to re-
peal by Pub. L. 89–554, § 8(a), and reenactment in sec-
tion 541 of this title by section 4(c) of Pub. L. 89–554.
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
SERVICEMEMBERS AND VETERANS INITIATIVE
Pub. L. 116–288, Jan. 5, 2021, 134 Stat. 4884, provided
that:
‘‘SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
‘‘This Act may be cited as the ‘Servicemembers and
Veterans Initiative Act of 2020’.
‘‘SEC. 2. SERVICEMEMBERS AND VETERANS INI-
TIATIVE.
‘‘(a)
ESTABLISHMENT.—There
is
established
the
Servicemembers and Veterans Initiative within the
Civil Rights Division of the Department of Justice.
‘‘(b) DUTIES.—The Servicemembers and Veterans Ini-
tiative shall—
‘‘(1) serve as legal and policy advisor to the Attor-
ney General on the Department of Justice’s efforts to
enforce
criminal
and
civil
laws
that
impact
servicemembers, veterans, and their families;
‘‘(2) develop policy recommendations for the Attor-
ney General on how the Department of Justice may
improve enforcement of Federal law to support
servicemembers, veterans, and their families;
‘‘(3) serve as the liaison and point of contact be-
tween the Department of Justice and the military de-
partments;
‘‘(4) provide counsel to the Assistant Attorney Gen-
eral for the Office of Justice Programs to ensure
funding decisions take into account servicemembers,
veterans, and their families;
‘‘(5) consult with components of the Department of
Justice to promote the provision of civil legal aid to
servicemembers, veterans, and their families;
‘‘(6) serve as a liaison and point of contact with the
Consumer Protection Branch of the Civil Division of
the Department of Justice, with respect to the pros-
ecution of Federal crimes involving fraud that target
servicemembers; and
‘‘(7) serve as a liaison and point of contact with
other components of the Department of Justice as
needed to support the enforcement of other Federal
laws that protect servicemembers and veterans, as
the Attorney General determines appropriate.’’
OFFICE OF JUSTICE FOR VICTIMS OF OVERSEAS
TERRORISM
Pub. L. 108–447, div. B, title I, § 126, Dec. 8, 2004, 118
Stat. 2872, provided that: ‘‘The Department of Justice
shall establish an Office of Justice for Victims of Over-
seas Terrorism.’’
SPECIFIC AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS REQUIRED
FOR DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
Pub. L. 94–503, title II, § 204, Oct. 15, 1976, 90 Stat. 2427,
provided that: ‘‘No sums shall be deemed to be author-
ized to be appropriated for any fiscal year beginning on
or after October 1, 1978, for the Department of Justice
(including any bureau, agency, or other similar sub-
division thereof) except as specifically authorized by
Act of Congress with respect to such fiscal year. Nei-
ther the creation of a subdivision in the Department of
Justice, nor the authorization of an activity of the De-
partment, any subdivision, or officer thereof, shall be
deemed in itself to be an authorization of appropria-
tions for the Department of Justice, such subdivision,
or activity, with respect to any fiscal year beginning
on or after October 1, 1978.’’
§ 502. Seal
The Attorney General shall have a seal for the
Department of Justice. The design of the seal is
subject to the approval of the President.
(Added Pub. L. 89–554, § 4(c), Sept. 6, 1966, 80 Stat.
611.)
HISTORICAL AND REVISION NOTES
Derivation
U.S. Code
Revised Statutes and
Statutes at Large
.....................
5 U.S.C. 292.
R.S. § 353.
The section is rewritten to conform to other statutes
authorizing departmental seals. The words ‘‘The seal
heretofore provided for the office of the Attorney Gen-
eral shall be’’ are omitted as obsolete.
Editorial Notes
PRIOR PROVISIONS
A prior section 502, act June 25, 1948, ch. 646, 62 Stat.
909, related to appointment of assistant United States
attorneys, prior to repeal by Pub. L. 89–554, § 8(a), and
Cross-references
Connections may be documented source relationships, shared citations or nearby passages. Each explains its basis; a connection alone does not establish applicability to your situation.
Federal law — U.S. Code and appendices · legal_authorities