PART 0-ORGANIZATION

0.4 Laws administered. 0.5-0.6 [Reserved]

0.7 Delegation of functions.

0.8 The Chairman.

0.9 Organization structure.

0.10 Office of the Executive Director.
0.11 Office of the General Counsel.
0.12 Office of the Secretary.
0.13 Office of Policy Planning.

0.14 Office of Administrative Law Judges. 0.15 Office of Presiding Officers.

0.16 Bureau of Competition.

0.17 Bureau of Consumer Protection. 0.18 Bureau of Economics.

0.19 The Regional Offices.

AUTHORITY: Sec. 6(g), 38 Stat. 721 (15 U.S.C. 46); 80 Stat. 383, as amended (5 U.S.C. 552).

SOURCE: 41 FR 54483, Dec. 14, 1976, unless otherwise noted.

8 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 open on each business day from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

§ 0.4 Laws administered.

The Commission exercises enforcement and administrative authority under the Federal Trade Commission Act (38 Stat. 717, as amended (15 U.S.C. 41-58)), the Clayton Act (38 Stat 730, as amended (15 U.S.C. 1227)), the Export Trade Act (40 Stat. 516, as amended (15 U.S.C. 61-65)), the Packers and Stockyards Act (42 Stat. 159, as amended (7 U.S.C. 181-229)), the Wool Products Labeling Act (54 Stat. 1128, as amended (15 U.S.C. 6868j)), the Trade Mark Act (60 Stat. 427, as amended (15 U.S.C. 1051-72)), The Fur Products Labeling Act (65 Stat. 175, as amended (15 U.S.C. 6969j)), the Textile Fiber Products Identification Act (72 Stat. 1717, as amended (15 U.S.C. 70-70k)), the Federal Cigarette Labeling and Advertising Act (79 Stat. 282, as amended (15 U.S.C. 1331-39)), the Fair Packaging and Labeling Act (80 Stat. 1296, as amended (15 U.S.C. 1451-61)), the Truth in Lending Act (82 Stat. 146, as amended (15 U.S.C. 1601 et seq.)), the Fair Credit Reporting Act (84 Stat. 1128 (15 U.S.C. 1681 et seq.)), the Fair Credit Billing Act (88 Stat. 1511; (15 U.S.C. 1666)), the Equal Credit Opportunity Act (88 Stat. 1521, as amended (15 U.S.C. 1691)), Hobby Protection Act (87 Stat. 686 (15 U.S.C. 2101)), the Magnuson-Moss Warranty-Federal Trade Commission Improvement Act (88 Stat. 2183 (15 U.S.C. 2301-12, 4558)), the Energy Policy and Conservation Act (89 Stat. 871 (42 U.S.C. 6291)), the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976 (90 Stat. 1383 (15 U.S.C. 1311)), and other Federal statutes.

88 0.5-0.6 [Reserved]

8 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.

8 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

Office of Administrative Law Judges
Office of Presiding Officers

Bureau of Competition

Bureau of Consumer Protection

Bureau of Economics

The Regional Offices

[45 FR 36340, May 29, 1980; 45 FR 39244, June 10, 1980]

8 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 resolves problems concerning priorities in case handling. Immediately under his direction are the Deputy Executive Directors for Management and Planning and Information.

(b) The Deputy Executive Director for Management functions as staff advisor 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 procurement and contracts, personnel, budget and finance, 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; and is responsible for publication of all Commission actions which must appear in the FEDERAL REGISTER and publication of the Federal Trade Commission Decisions and the Court Decisions-Federal Trade Commission.

(c) The Deputy Executive Director for Planning and Information provides general supervision to the programs of data processing and information systems, information analysis, and the library; responds to initial requests for Commission records under the Freedom of Information and Privacy Acts; 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; and coordinates the Commission's information processing systems.

[48 FR 4280, Jan. 31, 1983]

8 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. The Secretary, or in his absence an Acting Secretary designated by the Commission, signs Commission orders and official correspondence.

[48 FR 4280, Jan. 31, 1983]

8 0.13 Office of Policy Planning.

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.

[41 FR 54483, Dec. 14, 1976, as amended at 46 FR 26287, May 12, 1981]

Federal Trade Commission Act as amended and other rulemaking proceedings as directed.

[45 FR 36340, May 29, 1980]

§ 0.16 Bureau of Competition.

This bureau is responsible for enforcing Federal antitrust and trade regulation laws under section 5 of the Federal Trade Commission Act, the Clayton Act, and a number of other 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.

[41 FR 54483, Dec. 14, 1976. Redesignated at 45 FR 36341, May 29, 1980]

8 0.17 Bureau of Consumer Protection.

The Bureau investigates 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 consentedto orders, which must be accepted and issued by the Commission. The bureau participates in trade regulation rulemaking proceedings under section 18(a)(1)(B) of the Federal Trade Commission Act and other rulemaking proceedings under other statutory au

thority. 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. [46 FR 26287, May 12, 1981]

8 0.18 Bureau of Economics.

This 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. It also carries on a continuing financial reporting program for the primary purpose of supplying authoritative statistics concerning the financial characteristics of different groups of industries and of various classes of manufacturing corporations. [41 FR 54483, Dec. 14, 1976. Redesignated at 45 FR 36341, May 29, 1980]

8 0.19 The Regional Offices.

(a) These offices are investigatory arms of the Commission, and, with respect to matters of a regional nature, have responsibility for investigational, trial, compliance, and consumer educational activities as delegated by the Commission. Each regional office has general responsibility for its own activities and for the smaller offices, designated as field stations, located in its area of responsibility. They are under the general supervision of the Office of the Executive Director, and clear their activities through the appropriate operating bureaus.

(b) The addresses of the respective regional offices, and of the field stations located in the area of each are as follows:

(1) Atlanta Regional Office. Federal Trade Commission, Room 1000, 1718 Peachtree Street, NW., Atlanta, GA 30309.

(2) Boston Regional Office. Federal Trade Commission, Room 1301, 150 Causeway Street, Boston, MA 02114.

(3) Chicago Regional Office. Federal Trade Commission, Suite 1437, 55 East Monroe Street, Chicago, IL 60603.

(4) Cleveland Regional Office. Federal Trade Commission, Suite 500, Mall Building,

118 Saint Clair Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44114.

(5) Dallas Regional Office. Federal Trade Commission, Suite 2665, 2001 Bryan Street, Dallas, TX 75201.

(6) Denver Regional Office. Federal Trade Commission, Suite 2900, 1405 Curtis Street, Denver, CO 80202.

(7) Los Angeles Regional Office. Federal Trade Commission, Room 13209, Federal Building, 11000 Wilshire Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90024.

(8) New York Regional Office. Federal Trade Commission, 2243-EB, Federal Building, 26 Federal Plaza, New York, NY 10007.

(9) San Francisco Regional Office. Federal Trade Commission, 450 Golden Gate Avenue, Box 36005, San Francisco, CA 94102. Field Station: Federal Trade Commission, Room 6324, 300 Ala Moana, Honolulu, HI 96850.

(10) Seattle Regional Office. Federal Trade Commission, 28th Floor, Federal Building, 915 Second Avenue, Seattle, WA 98174.

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

[41 FR 54483, Dec. 14, 1976, as amended at 42 FR 27218, May 27, 1977; 43 FR 754, Jan. 4, 1978; 43 FR 6579, Feb. 15, 1978. Redesignated at 45 FR 36341, May 29, 1980]

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