Changes

The [[Department of Justice]] is responsible for handling all [[prosecution]]s 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.

The [[Department of Justice]] is responsible for handling all [[prosecution]]s 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 [[crime]]s in all areas of life.  [[Fraud]].  Accounting deception.  Monopoly|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.

Now the [[federal]] [[government]] prosecutes thousands of [[crime]]s in all areas of life.  [[Fraud]].  Accounting deception.  [[Monopoly|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]] [[prosecutor]]s, [[federal]] [[prosecutor]]s 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. Attorney (or federal prosecutor)|U.S. Attorney]]s or assistant [[U.S. Attorney (or federal prosecutor)|U.S. Attorney]]s.  [[State]] [[prosecutors]] are called [[District attorney|District Attorney]]s.  The top [[state]] [[prosecutor]]s 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 [[president]]ial [[election]]s are typically determined by [[economic]] rather than legal [[issue]]s.

Unlike [[state]] [[prosecutor]]s, [[federal]] [[prosecutor]]s 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. Attorney (or federal prosecutor)|U.S. Attorney]]s or assistant [[U.S. Attorney (or federal prosecutor)|U.S. Attorney]]s.  [[State]] [[prosecutors]] are called [[District attorney|District Attorney]]s.  The top [[state]] [[prosecutor]]s 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 [[president]]ial [[election]]s are typically determined by [[economic]] rather than legal [[issue]]s.