Antitrust Division
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The Antitrust Division is responsible for enforcing the nation's antitrust laws to protect competition, prevent monopolies, and ensure fair markets. It deals with both civil and criminal antitrust matters, including high-profile cases against companies and mergers that could threaten competitive markets.
Mission
The mission of the Antitrust Division is to maintain competitive markets by upholding antitrust laws, promoting economic freedom, and ensuring that businesses compete on the merits of their products and services. This involves challenging anticompetitive practices that could undermine consumer choice, innovation, and fair pricing.
Parent organization
- U.S. Department of Justice - The Antitrust Division operates directly under the DOJ, with the Assistant Attorney General for Antitrust reporting to the Attorney General.
Legislation
Although established through executive action in 1903, the modern functions of the Antitrust Division were significantly shaped by the Clayton Antitrust Act of 1914 and other subsequent antitrust legislation.
Partners
- The Division collaborates with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) for civil antitrust enforcement but does not list specific partners in the provided references.
Number of employees
The Antitrust Division employs around 800 professionals, including attorneys, economists, and support staff.
Organization structure
- Office of the Assistant Attorney General leads the Division.
- Civil Sections handle noncriminal antitrust enforcement.
- Criminal Sections investigate and prosecute criminal antitrust violations.
- Economic Analysis Group (EAG) provides economic analysis for antitrust cases.
- Appellate, Policy, and International Section deals with appeals, policy development, and international antitrust matters.
List of programs
- Merger Reviews
- Criminal Prosecution of Antitrust Violations
- Civil Antitrust Litigation
Last total enacted budget
The budget for the Antitrust Division is part of the DOJ's overall budget; specific figures are not publicly detailed.
Leader
The head of the organization holds the title of Assistant Attorney General, currently Jonathan Kanter.
Services provided
The Antitrust Division provides services by enforcing antitrust laws through civil lawsuits to block anticompetitive mergers, criminal prosecutions of price-fixing and other conspiracies, and offering guidance on antitrust compliance. It also reviews proposed mergers for their potential effect on competition.
Regulations overseen
The Division enforces key antitrust statutes like the Sherman Act, Clayton Act, and the Federal Trade Commission Act, but does not directly oversee regulations; it ensures market practices comply with these laws through legal actions.
Headquarters address
950 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20530-0001, USA
Website
Wikipedia article
wikipedia:United States Department of Justice Antitrust Division