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The United States Government Manual
Federal Trade Commission
600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20580
202-326-2222
http://www.ftc.gov
| CHAIR | Maureen K. Ohlhausen, Acting |
| Commissioner | Terrell McSweeny |
| Commissioner | (vacancy) |
| Commissioner | (vacancy) |
| Commissioner | (vacancy) |
| Chief of Staff | Svetlana Gans |
| Executive Director | David B Robbins |
| Chief Administrative Law Judge | D. Michael Chappell |
| Director, Bureau of Competition | Markus H. Meier, Acting |
| Director, Bureau of Consumer Protection | Thomas B. Pahl, Acting |
| Director, Bureau of Economics | Michael G. Vita, Acting |
| Director, Office of Congressional Relations | Jeanne Bumpus |
| Director, Office of Equal Employment Opportunity and Workplace Inclusion | Kevin D. Williams |
| Director, Office of International Affairs | Randolph W. Tritell |
| Director, Office of Policy Planning | Tara Isa Koslov, Acting |
| Director, Office of Public Affairs | Peter Kaplan, Acting |
| General Counsel | David C. Shonka, Acting |
| Inspector General | Roslyn Mazer |
| Secretary of the Commission | Donald S. Clark |
The Federal Trade Commission protects America's consumers and enforces laws prohibiting anticompetitive, deceptive, or unfair business practices.
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) was established in 1914 by the Federal Trade Commission Act (15 U.S.C. 41-58). The Commission comprises five members whom the President appoints with the advice and consent of the Senate for 7-year terms. No more than three of the Commissioners may be members of the same political party. The President designates one of them as Chair of the Commission to oversee its administrative management.
Activities
The FTC protects consumers and promotes competition in broad sectors of the economy. It safeguards and strengthens free and open markets and helps consumers make informed choices. The FTC carries out its mission by using a variety of tools: consumer and business education, law enforcement, research, rulemaking, and studies of marketplace trends and legal developments. The FTC envisions a vigorously competitive U.S. economy offering accessible and accurate information to consumers, an economy yielding high-quality products at competitive prices and fostering efficiency, innovation, and consumer choice.
https://www.ftc.gov/about-ftcCompetition
The FTC prevents anticompetitive mergers and works to keep the marketplace free from anticompetitive business practices. To promote competition, the FTC engages in six law enforcement-related activities: premerger notification, merger and joint venture enforcement, merger and joint venture compliance, nonmerger enforcement, nonmerger compliance, and antitrust policy. Policy initiatives, research, and business guidance and education also play a role in promoting competition.
https://www.ftc.gov/about-ftc/bureaus-offices/bureau-competitionConsumer Protection
The FTC brings a variety of consumer protection cases and works with State attorneys general and other State and local consumer protection officials. To protect consumers, it relies on five law enforcement functions: privacy and identity protection, financial practices, marketing practices, advertising practices, and enforcement. Policy initiatives, research, and business and consumer education also enhance protection.
https://www.ftc.gov/about-ftc/bureaus-offices/bureau-consumer-protectionEnforcement
The FTC's law enforcement activities foster voluntary compliance with the law, but also include formal administrative or Federal court litigation leading to mandatory orders against offenders.
The FTC can issue an administrative complaint or authorize the filing of a Federal district court complaint charging a person, partnership, or corporation with violating one or more of the statutes that the FTC enforces. If the charges are not contested, settled by consent of the parties, or found to be true after an administrative hearing or a Federal court trial, an administrative law judge or Federal court judge will issue an order requiring discontinuance of the unlawful practices. The FTC also may request that a U.S. district court issue preliminary relief to halt allegedly unfair or deceptive practices, to prevent an anticompetitive merger or unfair methods of competition from taking place, or to prevent violations of any statute that the FTC enforces, pending the full adjudication of the matter. In Federal court, the FTC may obtain other relief, including monetary redress. An order issued after an administrative or Federal court proceeding that requires the respondent to cease and desist or take other corrective action may be appealed.
https://www.ftc.gov/enforcementInternational Affairs
With other nations and international organizations, the FTC promotes sound competition and consumer protection policies and provides technical assistance to nurture competition and enable consumer protection agencies to perform their missions.
https://www.ftc.gov/policy/internationalSources of Information
Antitrust Violations
To report an antitrust violation, contact the Bureau of Competition's Office of Policy and Coordination. Phone, 202-326-3300.
https://www.ftc.gov/faq/competition/report-antitrust-violation | Email: antitrust@ftc.govBusiness Opportunities
For information on contracts and procurement, contact the Assistant Chief Financial Officer for Acquisitions. Phone, 202-326-2339. Fax, 202-326-3529.
https://www.ftc.gov/about-ftc/bureaus-offices/office-executive-director/financial-management-office/acquisition-branchCareer Opportunities
To carry out its mission, the FTC relies on attorneys, investigators, and specialists in financial management, information technology, public affairs, public policy, and in other fields. The agency posts current job vacancies on its Web site. Information on benefits, diversity, working at the FTC, and the application process is also accessible online. For additional information, contact the Human Capital Management Office. Phone, 202-326-2021. TTY, 202-326-3422.
https://www.ftc.gov/about-ftc/careers-ftcThe Partnership for Public Service categorizes the FTC as a midsize agency. In the Partnership's 2016 Best Places To Work in the Federal Government rankings, the FTC improved its index score and placed fifth in its category.
http://bestplacestowork.org/BPTW/rankings/detail/FT00Consumer Complaints
The FTC relies on complaints from consumers to detect patterns of abuse and fraud. A complaint may be filed in English or Spanish and online or by phone. The FTC enters complaints into Consumer Sentinel, a secure online database that civil and criminal law enforcement agencies in the U.S. and abroad can access. Phone, 877-382-4357.
https://www.ftccomplaintassistant.govCredit Reports
The Fair Credit Reporting Act requires each of the nationwide credit reporting companies to provide a free credit report, upon request, once every 12 months.
https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/0155-free-credit-reportsDo Not Call Registry
Register a home or mobile phone for free on the National Do Not Call Registry to eliminate most telemarketing calls.
https://www.donotcall.govFreedom of Information Act (FOIA)
Enacted in 1966, the FOIA generally provides that any Individual has the right to make a request for Federal agency records or information; all Federal Government agencies are required to disclose records upon receiving a written request for them; nine exemptions, in addition to limits to FOIA, shield certain records from disclosure. The Federal FOIA does not provide access to records that State or local government agencies hold, or that private businesses or individuals hold.
https://www.ftc.gov/about-ftc/foiaHistory
American Presidents are a part of the FTC's history. To learn which President helped pave the way toward the Commission's creation, whose signature approved the Federal Trade Commission Act, which President literally helped with the building, and which 21st-century President paid a visit to the FTC, see the "Our History" Web page.
https://www.ftc.gov/about-ftc/our-historyIdentity Theft
Use IdentiftyTheft.gov to report identity theft and formulate a personal recovery plan.
https://www.identitytheft.govOpen Government
The FTC supports the Open Government initiative by promoting the principles of collaboration, participation, and transparency.
https://www.ftc.gov/site-information/open-governmentOrganizational Chart
The FTC's organizational chart is available in Portable Document Format (PDF) for viewing and downloading.
https://www.ftc.gov/system/files/attachments/about-ftc/orgchart_ftc_july_18_2017_0.pdfPublications
Blog updates, newsletters, and press releases are posted online. Free consumer and business education publications are available from the Consumer Response Center, Federal Trade Commission, Washington, DC 20580. Phone, 877-382-4357. TTY, 866-653-4261.
https://www.ftc.gov/stay-connectedRegional Offices
A map of the seven FTC regions—East Central, Midwest, Northeast, Northwest, Southeast, Southwest, and Western—and contact information for the regional offices representing them are available online.
https://www.ftc.gov/about-ftc/bureaus-offices/regional-officesScam Alerts
Stay abreast of new scams with the latest information and practical tips. An online subscription form is available to receive scam alerts by email.
https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/scam-alertsWorkshops
Information on conferences and workshops is available online.
https://www.ftc.gov/news-eventsFor further information, contact the Office of Public Affairs, Federal Trade Commission, 600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20580. Phone, 202-326-2180. Fax, 202-326-3366.