Changes

Much attention these days is focused on the fourth oldest department: the Department of Justice.  Its head, Attorney General John Ashcroft, was bitterly opposed by [[liberal]]s from the beginning.  The [[United States Senate|Senate]] delayed his confirmation and he won in a relatively close vote in early 2001, after [[George W. Bush|Bush]] became [[President of the United States of America|president]] and appointed him.

Much attention these days is focused on the fourth oldest department: the Department of Justice.  Its head, Attorney General John Ashcroft, was bitterly opposed by [[liberal]]s from the beginning.  The [[United States Senate|Senate]] delayed his confirmation and he won in a relatively close vote in early 2001, after [[George W. Bush|Bush]] became [[President of the United States of America|president]] and appointed him.

The Department of Justice is responsible for handling all prosecutions and litigation for the [[federal]] [[government]].  Originally, the [[federal]] [[government]] prosecuted very few crimes.  Treason was one.  Counterfeiting was another.  But not much more.

The Department of Justice is responsible for handling all prosecutions and litigation for the [[federal]] [[government]].  Originally, the [[federal]] [[government]] prosecuted very few [[crime]]s.  Treason was one.  Counterfeiting was another.  But not much more.

Now the [[federal]] [[government]] prosecutes thousands of crimes in all areas of life.  Fraud.  Accounting deception.  Monopolies.  Lying to a [[federal]] official is a special [[federal]] crime.  Obstruction of justice is a [[federal]] crime, when someone interferes with an investigation.  Certain types of murder are now [[federal]] crimes.  It was the Department of Justice that attempted to break up Microsoft’s monopoly; it is the Department of Justice that is prosecuting Martha Stewart; it is the Department of Justice that is currently investigating a leak from the [[White House]] about a CIA agent.

Now the [[federal]] [[government]] prosecutes thousands of [[crime]]s in all areas of life.  Fraud.  Accounting deception.  Monopolies.  Lying to a [[federal]] official is a special [[federal]] [[crime]].  Obstruction of justice is a [[federal]] [[crime]], when someone interferes with an investigation.  Certain types of murder are now [[federal]] [[crime]]s.  It was the Department of Justice that attempted to break up Microsoft’s monopoly; it is the Department of Justice that is prosecuting Martha Stewart; it is the Department of Justice that is currently investigating a leak from the [[White House]] about a CIA agent.

Unlike state prosecutors, [[federal]] prosecutors are not elected.  They work under the Attorney General, who is appointed by the [[President of the United States of America|president]].  They are called U.S. Attorneys or assistant U.S. Attorneys.  State prosecutors are called District Attorneys.  The top state prosecutors are elected, and thus directly accountable to the public.  When a state prosecution meets with public disapproval, the responsible district attorney can be defeated at the next election.  But the [[President of the United States of America|president]] has to be defeated to change the Department of Justice, and presidential elections are typically determined by economic rather than legal issues.

Unlike state prosecutors, [[federal]] prosecutors are not elected.  They work under the Attorney General, who is appointed by the [[President of the United States of America|president]].  They are called U.S. Attorneys or assistant U.S. Attorneys.  State prosecutors are called District Attorneys.  The top state prosecutors are elected, and thus directly accountable to the public.  When a state prosecution meets with public disapproval, the responsible district attorney can be defeated at the next election.  But the [[President of the United States of America|president]] has to be defeated to change the Department of Justice, and presidential elections are typically determined by economic rather than legal issues.