The Federal Trade Commission is an independent administrative agency that was organized in 1915 pursuant to the Federal Trade Commission Act of 1914 (38 Stat. 717, as amended; 15 U.S.C. 41-58). It is responsible for the administration of a variety of statutes that, in general, are designed to promote competition and to protect the public from unfair and deceptive acts and practices in the advertising and marketing of goods and services. It is composed of five members appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate for terms of seven years.

[41 FR 54483, Dec. 14, 1976, as amended at 86 FR 38545, July 22, 2021]

The principal office of the Commission is in Washington, DC. All communications to the Commission should be addressed to the Federal Trade Commission, 600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20580, unless otherwise specifically directed. The Commission's Web site address is www.ftc.gov.

[63 FR 71582, Dec. 29, 1998, as amended at 65 FR 78408, Dec. 15, 2000; 86 FR 38545, July 22, 2021]

Principal and regional offices are open from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., except on Saturdays, Sundays, and legal holidays.

[86 FR 38545, July 22, 2021]

The Commission exercises enforcement and administrative authority under the Federal Trade Commission Act (15 U.S.C. 41-58), Clayton Act (15 U.S.C. 12-27), and more than 70 other Federal statutes, which are listed at https://www.ftc.gov/enforcement/statutes.

[86 FR 38545, July 22, 2021]

(a) The Commission is authorized to entertain monetary claims against it under three statutes.

(1) The Federal Tort Claims Act (28 U.S.C. 2671-2680) provides that the United States will be liable for injury or loss of property or personal injury or death caused by the negligent or wrongful acts or omissions of its employees acting within the scope of their employment or office.

(2) The Military Personnel and Civilian Employees Claims Act of 1964 (31 U.S.C. 3701, 3721) authorizes the Commission to compensate employees' claims for damage to or loss of personal property incident to their service.

(3) The Equal Access to Justice Act (5 U.S.C. 504 and 28 U.S.C. 2412) provides that an eligible prevailing party other than the United States will be awarded fees and expenses incurred in connection with any adversary adjudicative and court proceeding, unless the adjudicative officer finds that the agency was substantially justified or that special circumstances make an award unjust.

(b) In addition, eligible parties, including certain small businesses, will be awarded fees and expenses incurred in defending against an agency demand that is substantially in excess of the final decision of the adjudicative officer and is unreasonable when compared with such decision under the facts and circumstances of the case, unless the adjudicative officer finds that the party has committed a willful violation of law or otherwise acted in bad faith, or special circumstances make an award unjust. Questions may be addressed to the Office of the General Counsel.

[86 FR 38545, July 22, 2021]

(a) The Commission, under the authority provided by Reorganization Plan No. 4 of 1961 (15 U.S.C. 41 note), may delegate, by published order or rule, certain of its functions to a division of the Commission, an individual Commissioner, an administrative law judge, or an employee or employee board, and retains a discretionary right to review such delegated action upon its own initiative or upon petition of a party to or an intervenor in such action.

(b) The Commission delegates its functions, subject to certain limitations, when no quorum is available for the transaction of business. The delegate or delegates are authorized to act in instances in which no party or intervenor would be adversely affected by the delegated action and entitled to seek review by the Commission, as provided by section 1(b) of Reorganization Plan No. 4 of 1961, or in instances in which all such adversely affected parties or intervenors have waived such a right. In actions in which at least one Commissioner is participating, this delegation is to the participating Commissioner or to the body of Commissioners who are participating. In actions in which no Commissioner is available or no Commissioner is participating, the General Counsel in consultation, where appropriate, with the Directors of the Bureaus of Consumer Protection, Competition, and Economics will exercise this delegated authority without power of redelegation. This delegation does not alter or affect other delegations to Commission staff. This delegation is only authorized for those instances in which the Commission lacks a quorum as set forth in Commission Rule 4.14(b), 16 CFR 4.14(b) (Commission quorum).

[83 FR 7110, Feb. 20, 2018, as amended at 86 FR 38546, July 22, 2021]

The Chair of the Commission is designated by the President, and, subject to the general policies of the Commission, is the executive and administrative head of the agency. The Chair presides at meetings of and hearings before the Commission and participates with other Commissioners in all Commission decisions. In rulemaking proceedings under section 18(a)(1)(B) of the Federal Trade Commission Act (15 U.S.C. 57a(a)(1)(B)), the Chair serves as or may designate another Commissioner to serve as the Chief Presiding Officer or may appoint another person to serve as Chief Presiding Officer who is not responsible to any other official or employee of the Commission. Attached to the Office of the Chair, and reporting directly to the Chair, and through the Chair to the Commission, are the following staff units:

(a) The Office of the Chief Privacy Officer, which ensures that the agency's practices and policies comply with applicable federal information privacy and security requirements and standards;

(b) The Office of Congressional Relations, which coordinates all liaison activities with Congress;

(c) The Office of Equal Employment Opportunity and Workplace Inclusion, which advises and assists the Chair and the organizational units in EEO policy and diversity management issues;

(d) The Office of Policy Planning, which assists the Commission to develop and implement long-range competition and consumer protection policy initiatives;

(e) The Office of Public Affairs, which furnishes information concerning Commission activities to news media and the public; and

(f) The Office of Technology, which employs expertise in technology to strengthen and support law enforcement investigations and actions, advise and engage with FTC staff and the Commission on policy and research initiatives, and engage the public and relevant experts to understand trends and to advance the Commission's work.

[86 FR 38546, July 22, 2021, as amended at 88 FR 42874, July 5, 2023]

The Federal Trade Commission includes the following principal units: Office of the Executive Director; Office of the General Counsel; Office of the Secretary; Office of the Inspector General; Office of Administrative Law Judges; Bureau of Competition; Bureau of Consumer Protection; Bureau of Economics; and Office of International Affairs.

[86 FR 38546, July 22, 2021]

The Executive Director, under the direction of the Chairman, is the chief operating official who develops and implements management and administrative policies, programs, and directives for the Commission. The Executive Director works closely with the Bureaus on strategic planning and assessing the management and resource implications of any proposed action. In addition, the Executive Director manages the Commission's facilities and administrative services, financial management, information technology, and human resources.

[65 FR 78408, Dec. 15, 2000, as amended at 86 FR 38546, July 22, 2021]

The General Counsel is the Commission's chief law officer and adviser, who renders necessary legal services to the Commission; represents the Commission in the Federal and State courts, and before administrative agencies in coordination with the Bureaus, in appellate litigation, investigative compulsory process enforcement, and defensive litigation; advises the Commission and other agency officials and staff with respect to questions of law and policy, including advice with respect to legislative matters and ethics; represents the agency in employment and labor disputes; and responds to requests and appeals filed under the Freedom of Information and Privacy Acts and to intra- and intergovernmental information access requests.

[86 FR 38546, July 22, 2021]

The Secretary is the legal custodian of the Commission's seal, property, papers, and records, including legal and public records, and is responsible for the minutes of Commission meetings. The Secretary, or in the Secretary's absence an Acting Secretary, signs Commission orders and official correspondence. In addition, the Secretary is responsible for the publication of all Commission actions that appear in the Federal Register and for the publication of Federal Trade Commission decisions.

[86 FR 38546, July 22, 2021]

The Office of Inspector General (OIG) was established within the Federal Trade Commission in 1989 as required by the Inspector General Act Amendments of 1988 (5 U.S.C. app. 3). The OIG promotes the economy, efficiency, and effectiveness of FTC programs and operations. To this end, the OIG independently conducts audits and investigations to find and prevent fraud, waste, and abuse within the agency.

[65 FR 78408, Dec. 15, 2000, as amended at 86 FR 38546, July 22, 2021]

Administrative law judges are officials to whom the Commission, in accordance with law, delegates the initial performance of statutory fact-finding functions and initial rulings on conclusions of law, to be exercised in conformity with Commission decisions and policy directives and with its Rules of Practice.

[86 FR 38546, July 22, 2021]

The Bureau is responsible for enforcing Federal antitrust and trade regulation laws under section 5 of the Federal Trade Commission Act (15 U.S.C. 45), the Clayton Act (15 U.S.C. 12-27), and a number of other special statutes that the Commission is charged with enforcing. The Bureau carries out its responsibilities by investigating alleged law violations, recommending to the Commission such further steps as may be appropriate, and prosecuting enforcement actions authorized by the Commission. Such further steps may include seeking injunctive and other relief as permitted by statute in Federal district court; litigating before the agency's administrative law judges; negotiating settlement of complaints; and initiating rules or reports. The Bureau also conducts compliance investigations and, in compliance with Section 16(a)(1) of the FTC Act (15 U.S.C. 56(a)(1)), initiates proceedings for civil penalties to assure compliance with final Commission orders dealing with competition and trade restraint matters. The Bureau's activities also include business and consumer education and staff advice on competition laws and compliance, and liaison functions with respect to foreign antitrust and competition law enforcement agencies and organizations, including requests for international enforcement assistance.

[86 FR 38546, July 22, 2021]

The Bureau is responsible for enforcing the prohibition against unfair or deceptive acts or practices in section 5 of the Federal Trade Commission Act (15 U.S.C. 45), as well as numerous special statutes that the Commission is charged with enforcing. The Bureau carries out its responsibilities by investigating alleged law violations, recommending to the Commission such further steps as may be appropriate, and prosecuting enforcement actions authorized by the Commission. Such further steps may include seeking injunctive and other relief as permitted by statute in Federal district court; litigating before the agency's administrative law judges; negotiating settlement of complaints; initiating rules or reports; and initiating civil penalty proceedings for rule violations. The Bureau also conducts compliance investigations and, in compliance with Section 16(a)(1) of the FTC Act (15 U.S.C. 56(a)(1)), initiates proceedings for civil penalties to assure compliance with final Commission orders dealing with unfair or deceptive practices. The Bureau participates in trade regulation rulemaking proceedings under section 18(a)(1)(B) of the Federal Trade Commission Act (15 U.S.C. 57a(a)(1)(B)) and other rulemaking proceedings under statutory authority. In addition, the Bureau seeks to educate both consumers and the business community about the laws it enforces, and to assist and cooperate with other state, local, and international agencies and organizations in consumer protection enforcement and regulatory matters.

[86 FR 38546, July 22, 2021]

The Bureau aids and advises the Commission concerning the economic aspects of all of its functions, and is responsible for the preparation of various economic reports and surveys. The Bureau provides economic and statistical assistance to the enforcement Bureaus in the investigation and trial of cases.

[41 FR 54483, Dec. 14, 1976. Redesignated at 45 FR 36341, May 29, 1980, and amended at 50 FR 53303, Dec. 31, 1985; 86 FR 38547, July 22, 2021]

(a) These offices are investigatory and enforcement arms of the Commission, and have responsibility for investigational, trial, compliance, and consumer educational activities as delegated by the Commission. They are under the general supervision of the Bureaus of Competition and Consumer Protection and clear their activities through the appropriate operating Bureau.

(b) The names and geographic areas of responsibility of the respective regional offices are as follows:

(1) Northeast Region (located in New York City, New York), covering Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, Vermont, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

(2) Southeast Region (located in Atlanta, Georgia), covering Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee.

(3) East Central Region (located in Cleveland, Ohio), covering Delaware, District of Columbia, Maryland, Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and West Virginia.

(4) Midwest Region (located in Chicago, Illinois), covering Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wisconsin.

(5) Southwest Region (located in Dallas, Texas), covering Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas.

(6) Northwest Region (located in Seattle, Washington), covering Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington, and Wyoming.

(7) Western Region Los Angeles (located in Los Angeles, California), covering Arizona, Hawaii, Southern California, Southern Nevada, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, and American Samoa.

(8) Western Region San Francisco (located in San Francisco, California), covering Colorado, Northern California, Northern Nevada, and Utah.

(c) Each of the regional offices is supervised by a Regional Director and an Assistant Regional Director, who are available for conferences with attorneys, consumers, and other members of the public on matters relating to the Commission's activities.

[86 FR 38547, July 22, 2021]

The Office of International Affairs (OIA) is responsible for the agency's international antitrust and international consumer protection missions in coordination and consultation with the appropriate Bureaus, including the design and implementation of the Commission's international program. OIA provides support to the Bureaus of Competition and Consumer Protection with regard to the international aspects of investigation and prosecution of unlawful conduct; builds cooperative relationships between the Commission and foreign authorities; cooperates with foreign authorities on investigations and enforcement; works closely with the Bureaus to recommend agency policies to the Commission; works, through bilateral relationships, multilateral organizations, and trade fora to promote Commission priorities and policies; participates in the United States government interagency process to promote agency views on international issues within the FTC's mandate; and coordinates staff exchanges and internships at the FTC for staff of non-U.S. competition, consumer protection, and privacy agencies. OIA also assists young agencies around the world to build capacity to promote sound competition and consumer protection law enforcement.

[86 FR 38547, July 22, 2021]