The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is the primary investigative arm of the United States Department of Justice (DOJ), serving as both a federal criminal investigative body and a domestic intelligence agency. At present, the FBI has investigative jurisdiction over violations of more than 200 categories of federal crimes, making the FBI the de-facto lead law enforcement agency of the United States government. The motto of the bureau is "Fidelity, Bravery, Integrity".
In fiscal year 2006, the FBI's total budget was approximately $8.7 billion, including $495 million in program increases to enhance counter-terrorism, counterintelligence, cyber crime, information technology, security, forensics, training, and criminal programs.
Established in 1908 as the Bureau of Investigation (BOI), the FBI did not receive its current name until 1935.
Headquartered in Washington, D.C., the FBI also has 56 field offices located in major cities throughout the United States, 400+ resident agencies in smaller cities and towns across the nation, and more than 50 international offices called "Legal Attaches" in U.S. embassies worldwide.

FBI Academy
FBI Laboratory
Criminal Justice Information Services
Behavioral Analysis Unit (BAU)
Critical Incident Response Group (CIRG)
Counterterrorism Division (CTD)
Law Enforcement Bulletin Unit (LEBU)
Hostage Rescue Team (HRT)
Joint Terrorism Task Force (JTTF)
National Security Branch (NSB)
List of FBI Directors
List of FBI Field Offices
Notable operations

• COINTELPRO
  Crime statistics
  
  
  
  • NIBRS
    Uniform Crime Reports
    Most wanted
    
    
    
    • FBI Ten Most Wanted Fugitives
      FBI Most Wanted Terrorists
      J. Edgar Hoover
      W. Mark Felt
      Joseph L. Gormley
      FBI portrayal in the media Mission and priorities
      The FBI's mandate is established in Title 28 of the United States Code (U.S. Code), Section 533, which authorizes the Attorney General to "appoint officials to detect... crimes against the United States." of those who are suspected of terrorism (something it had supposedly not done since the 1970s).
      The FBI's chief tool against organized crime is the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act. The FBI is also charged with the responsibility of enforcing compliance of the United States Civil Rights Act of 1964 and investigating violations of the act in addition to prosecuting such violations with the United States Department of Justice (DOJ). The FBI also shares concurrent jurisdiction with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) in the enforcement of the Controlled Substances Act of 1970.
      Information obtained through an FBI investigation is presented to the appropriate US Attorney or Department of Justice (DOJ) official, who decides if prosecution or other action is warranted.
      
      Legal authority
      With the passage of the Interstate Commerce Act in 1870, the Federal government began to take on some law enforcement responsibilities, which had been primarily handled at the state and local levels. The Department of Justice was tasked carry out these duties, concerning the Interstate Commerce Act. At first, the Attorney General informally hired some detectives, recruiting them from other Federal departments with detective forces. When a law was passed in 1908, forbidding this practice, Attorney General Charles Joseph Bonaparte moved to organize a formal Bureau of Investigation.
      
      History
      The FBI is headquartered at the J. Edgar Hoover Building in Washington, D.C., with 56 field offices and the National Transportation Safety Board in investigating airplane crashes and other critical incidents. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is the only other agency with the closest amount of investigative power. In the wake of the September 11, 2001 attacks, the FBI maintains a role in most federal criminal investigations.
      The FBI is organized in the following manner.
      
      National Security Branch
      
      
      
      • Counterintelligence Division
        Counterterrorism Division
        Directorate of Intelligence
        Criminal Investigations Branch
        
        
        
        • Criminal Investigative Division
          Cyber Division
          Law Enforcement Services Branch
          
          
          
          • Criminal Justice Information Services Division
            Critical Incident Response Group
            Laboratory Division
            Office of International Operations
            Office of Law Enforcement Coordination
            Operational Technology Division
            Training & Development Division
            Administration Branch
            
            
            
            • Administrative Services Division
              Facilities & Logistics Services Division
              Finance Division
              Records Management Division
              Security Division
              office of the Chief Information officer
              
              
              
              • Information Technology Operations Division
                office of IT Policy & Planning
                office of IT Program Management
                office of IT Systems Development Organization
                
                
                Main article: List of FBI Directors BOI and FBI directors
                While the exact process and details are classified, the process of becoming an employee of the FBI is arduous. At a minimum, FBI employees require a Top Secret (TS) security clearance, and in many instances, employees need a higher level, TS/SCI clearance. Special Agents candidates also have to pass a rigorous Physical Fitness Test (PFT) that includes a 300-meter run, one-minute sit-ups, maximum push-ups, and a 1.5-mile run. There is also a random drug test all FBI personnel have to pass in order to become an agent. In addition to the drug test, there is a polygraph test personnel have to pass, with questions including possible drug use. After potential special agent candidates are cleared with TS clearance and the Form SF-312 non-disclosure agreement is signed, they attend the FBI training facility located on Marine Corps Base Quantico in Virginia. Candidates spend approximately 21 weeks at the FBI Academy, where they receive over 500 classroom hours and over 1000 simulated law enforcement hours to train. Upon graduation, new FBI Special Agents are placed all around the country and the world, depending on their areas of expertise. Professional support staff works out of one of the many support buildings the FBI maintains. However, any Agent or Support staff member can be transferred to any location for any length of time if their skills are deemed necessary at one of the FBI field offices or one of the 400 resident agencies the FBI maintains.
                As of October 31, 2006, the FBI had a total of 30,762 employees. That includes 12,659 special agents and 18,009 support staff, such as intelligence analysts, language specialists, scientists, information technology specialists, and other professionals.
                
                Hiring process
                The FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin is published monthly by the FBI Law Enforcement Communication Unit, However, the vast majority of Federal government publications covering these topics are published by the Office of Justice Programs agencies of the United States Department of Justice, and disseminated through the National Criminal Justice Reference Service.
                
                Publications
                
                Crime statistics
                
                

                Main article: Uniform Crime Reports Uniform Crime Reports
                
                

                Main article: National Incident Based Reporting System National Incident Based Reporting System
                
                

                Main article: FBI portrayal in the media Media portrayal
                The FBI has endured public criticism and internal conflict in the past decade. As the FBI attempts to modernize technologically to take on a greater counter-terrorism role, there have been times where the FBI is scrutinized.
                Most of the recent controversies in the FBI have been involved with "terrorist" organizations or "operational" mishaps. In the early and late 1990s, its role in the Ruby Ridge and Waco incidents caused an uproar in how tactics where handled. During the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, Georgia, the FBI was also criticized for its investigation on the Centennial Olympic Park bombing. It has recently settled a dispute with Richard Jewell, who was a private security guard at the venue, along with the media organizations,
                
                Criticism
                
                See also
                
                State Bureau of Investigation State level organizations
                
                Bundeskriminalamt, Austria
                Bundeskriminalamt, Germany
                Central Bureau of Investigation, India
                Royal Canadian Mounted Police
                Canadian Security Intelligence Service
                Serious Organised Crime Agency (UK)
                Federal Agency of Investigation (Mexico)
                Australian Federal Police
                Policia Federal Argentina
                Federal Security Service of the Russian Federation
                National Bureau of Investigation (Philippines) Similar agencies of other nations
                
                Edwin Atherton left the service and founded Atherton & Dunn private investigations firm
                Richard Miller (first FBI Special Agent to be convicted of espionage)
                Moses Powell (first black man to train FBI agents in hand-to-hand combat)