§ 0.1 The Commission.

The Federal Trade Commission is an independent administrative agency which 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 which, 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.

§ 0.2 Official address.

The principal office of the Commission is at Washington, D.C. All communications to the Commission should be addressed to the Federal Trade Commission, Pennsylvania Avenue and Sixth Street, NW., Washington, D.C. 20580, unless otherwise specifically directed.

§ 0.3 Hours.

Principal and field offices are ope on each business day from 8:30 a.m. t 5 p.m.

§ 0.4 Laws administered.

The Commission exercises enforc ment and administrative authorit under the Federal Trade Commissio Act (38 Stat. 717, as amended (1 U.S.C. 41-58)), the Clayton Act (3 Stat 730, as amended (15 U.S.C. 12 27)), the Export Trade Act (40 Sta 516, as amended (15 U.S.C. 61-65)), th Packers and Stockyards Act (42 Sta 159, as amended (7 U.S.C. 181-229) the Wool Products Labeling Act (5 Stat. 1128, as amended (15 U.S.C. 68 68j)), the Trade Mark Act (60 Sta 427, as amended (15 U.S.C. 1051-72) The Fur Products Labeling Act (6 Stat. 175, as amended (15 U.S.C. 69 69j)), the Textile Fiber Products Ider tification Act (72 Stat. 1717, as amen ed (15 U.S.C. 70-70k)), the Federa Cigarette Labeling and Advertisin Act (79 Stat. 282, as amended (1 U.S.C. 1331-39)), the Fair Packagin and Labeling Act (80 Stat. 1296, a amended (15 U.S.C. 1451-61)), th Truth in Lending Act (82 Stat. 146, a amended (15 U.S.C. 1601 et seq.)), th Fair Credit Reporting Act (84 Sta 1128 (15 U.S.C. 1681 et seq.)), the Fai Credit Billing Act (88 Stat. 1511; (1 U.S.C. 1666)), the Equal Credit Oppor tunity Act (88 Stat. 1521, as amende (15 U.S.C. 1691)), Hobby Protectio Act (87 Stat. 686 (15 U.S.C. 2101)), th Magnuson-Moss Warranty-Federa Trade Commission Improvement Ad (88 Stat. 2183 (15 U.S.C. 2301-12, 45 58)), the Energy Policy and Conserva tion Act (89 Stat. 871 (42 U.S.C. 6291) the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Im provements Act of 1976 (90 Stat. 138 (15 U.S.C. 1311)), and other Federa statutes.

§§ 0.5-0.6 [Reserved]

§ 0.7 Delegation of functions.

The Commission, under the authority provided by Reorganization Plan No. 4 of 1961, 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.

§ 0.8 The Chairman.

(a) The Chairman 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. He presides at meetings of and hearings before the Commission and participates with other Commissioners in all Commission decisions. Attached to the Office of the Chairman, and reporting directly to him, and through him to the Commission, is the following staff unit:

(b) The Office of Public Information furnishes information concerning Commission activities to news media and the public.

§ 0.9 Organization structure.

The Federal Trade Commission comprises the following principal units:

Office of the Executive Director.
Office of the General Counsel.
Office of the Secretary.

Office of Policy Planning and Evaluation.
Office of Administrative Law Judges.
Bureau of Competition.

Bureau of Consumer Protection.

Bureau of Economics.

The Regional Offices.

§ 0.10 Office of the Executive Director.

(a) The Executive Director, under the direction of the Chairman, is the chief operating official. He exercises executive and administrative supervision over all the offices, bureaus, and staff of the Commission, and, in coordination with the Office of Policy Planning and Evaluation, resolves problems concerning priorities in case handling. Immediately under his direction is the Assistant Executive Director for Management.

(b) The Assistant Executive Director for Management functions as staff ad

viser to the Executive Director in all aspects of administrative management; provides administrative policy guidance to agency management and provides general supervision to the programs of management analysis and organization, personnel, budget and finance, data processing, and administrative service activities; initiates and develops long-range plans to assure that the Commission acquires and effectively utilizes the manpower, financial resources, physical facilities and management tools necessary to accomplish its mission.

§ 0.11 Office of the General Counsel.

The General Counsel is the Commission's chief law officer and adviser. He renders necessary legal services to the Commission, represents the Commission in the Federal and State Courts, advises the Commission with respect to questions of law and policy, including advice with respect to legislative matters, assists businessmen in obtaining advice from the Commission as to the legal propriety of proposed courses of action in particular situations under the statutes which it administers, cooperates with and assists State and local officials in the efforts to eliminate local and national trade restraints, and coordinates all liaison activities with Congress.

§ 0.12 Office of the Secretary.

The Secretary is responsible for the minutes of Commission meetings and is the legal custodian of the Commission's seal, property, papers, and records, including legal and public records. He, or in his absence an Acting Secretary designated by the Commission, signs Commission orders and official correspondence, and coordinates all liaison activities with the executive and administrative government departments and agencies. The office of the Secretary maintains a current index of opinions, orders, statements of policy and interpretations, staff manuals and instructions that affect any member of the public, and other public records of the Commission; makes available for inspection and copying all public records of the Commission; is responsible for publication of all Commission action which must

appear in the FEDERAL REGISTER and publication of the Federal Trade Commission Decisions and the Statutes and Court Decisions involving the Commission; maintains the Commission's procedures and rules of practice; and screens incoming correspondence addressed to the Commission, provides acknowledgments and replies to the extent appropriate and practicable, and routes correspondence requiring more specialized or detailed attention to the appropriate offices and bureaus for reply.

§ 0.13 Office of Policy Planning and Evaluation.

This office is responsible for the development of studies and reports with recommendations directly to the Commission with respect to how and where its resources should be utilized in order to best serve the public interest. This office works closely with the Office of the Executive Director and with the bureau directors in evaluating and coordinating the overall work of the Commission and in developing its budgetary requirements. Its functions include particularly the systematic review of Commission planning procedures, and of specific policies and programs, with emphasis on initiation and evaluation, so as to make informed recommendations with respect to each important area of Commission activity.

special statutes which the Commission is charged with enforcing. The bureau work aims to preserve the free market system and assure the unfettered operation of the forces of supply and demand. Its activities seek to ensure price competition, quality products and services and efficient operation of the national economy. The bureau carries out its responsibilities by investigating alleged law violations, and recommending to the Commission such further action as may be appropriate. Such action may include injunctive relief in Federal District Court, complaint and litigation before the agency's administrative law judges, formal nonadjudicative settlement of complaints, trade regulation rules, or reports. The bureau also conducts compliance investigations and initiates proceedings for civil penalties to assure compliance with final Commission orders dealing with competition and trade restraint matters.

§ 0.16 Bureau of Consumer Protection.

This bureau investigates potentially unfair or deceptive acts or practices under section 5 of the Federal Trade Commission Act as well as potential violations of numerous special statutes which the Commission is charged with enforcing. It prosecutes before the agency's administrative law judges alleged violations of law after issuance of a complaint by the Commission or obtains through negotiation consented-to orders, which must be accepted and issued by the Commission. The bureau conducts rulemaking proceedings to define with specificity, in trade regulation rules issued by the Commission, acts or practices which are violations of section 5. To that end, presiding officers are designated with the responsibility for the orderly conduct of such rulemaking proceedings. It investigates compliance with final orders and trade regulation rules and seeks civil penalties or consumer redress for their violation. In addition, the bureau seeks to educate both consumers and the business community about the laws it enforces.

§ 0.17 Bureau of Economics.

This bureau aids and advises the Commission concerning the economic

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