The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) was founded in 1908 by Attorney General Charles Joseph Bonaparte. 1/9

At the time, the U.S. Department of Justice had no federal law enforcement agency, so Bonaparte used his executive powers to create the Bureau of Investigation, which later became the FBI. 2/9

The Bureau of Investigation was created to investigate and enforce federal laws, particularly those related to monopolies and antitrust issues. In its early years, the bureau also focused on investigating whte-collar crimes, such as fraud and corruption. 3/9

In 1935, under the direction of J. Edgar Hoover, the Bureau of Investigation was renamed the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The FBI's mandate was expanded to include the investigation of other federal crimes, such as bank robbery, extortion, and kidnapping. 4/9

The FBI's authority is derived from several federal laws, including the Department of Justice Appropriation Act, the Federal Bureau of Investigation Act of 1935, the Organized Crime Control Act of 1970, and the USA PATRIOT Act of 2001. 5/9

Throughout its history, the FBI has made its name known for investigating and combating a wide range of criminal activities, including organized crime, white-collar crime, public corruption, civil rights violations, cybercrime, and terrorism. 6/9

The FBI also provides support and assistance to other law enforcement agencies at the local, state, and federal level. The FBI has also played a significant role in national security and intelligence gathering. 7/9

The FBI has the authority to investigate espionage, sabotage, and other matters related to national security. The FBI also has a role in counterintelligence, counterterrorism, and intelligence gathering. 8/9

The FBI's reputation as one of the most powerful and respected law enforcement agencies in the world is a result of its long history of investigating and combating crime, its commitment to protecting the rights of citizens and its ability to adapt to new and emerging threats. 9/9