Federal Trade Commission 2 in the United States

See:

• Federal Trade Commission

Compliance Activities

FTC works to ensure compliance with its administrative and Federal court orders. Defendants against whom such orders have been issued are required to file reports with the FTC to substantiate their compliance. In the event compliance is not obtained, or if an order is subsequently violated, the FTC may institute contempt or civil penalty proceedings.

Cooperative Procedures

FTC makes extensive use of voluntary and cooperative procedures. Through these procedures, business and industry may obtain authoritative guidance and a substantial measure of certainty as to what they may do under the laws administered by the FTC.

FTC issues, in plain language, administrative interpretations of laws enforced by the FTC. Guides provide the basis for compliance by members of a particular industry or by an industry in general. Failure to comply with the guides may result in corrective action by the FTC under applicable statutory provisions.

Enforcement

FTC’s law enforcement work covers actions to foster voluntary compliance with the law and formal administrative or Federal court litigation leading to mandatory orders against offenders.

Also, the FTC may request that a U.S. district court issue a preliminary or permanent injunction to halt the use of 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 enforced by the FTC. In Federal court, the FTC may obtain other relief, including monetary redress.

Investigations

FTC investigations may originate through complaint by a consumer or competitor, the Congress, or from Federal, State, or municipal agencies. The FTC may also initiate an investigation into possible violations. Complaints may be submitted by letter or phone and should give the facts in detail accompanied by all supporting evidence.

FTC also maintains electronic complaint systems that are accessible through its Web site. It is FTC policy not to disclose the identity of any complainant, except as required by law or FTC rules.

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. The appeals process may go as far as the Supreme Court.

Reports

The Commission prepares marketplace studies. Such reports have provided the basis for significant legislation and have also led to voluntary changes in the conduct of business, with resulting benefits to the public. For a complete list of Federal Trade Commission regional offices, go to http://www.ftc.gov/ro/index.shtml.

For 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. Internet, http://www.ftc.gov.

See Also

• Federal Trade Commission
• Federal Election Commission
• Federal Maritime Commission
• United States International Trade Commission
• Federal Communications Commission

Further reading

G. Cullom Davis. “The Transformation of the Federal Trade Commission, 1914–1929,” The Mississippi Valley Historical Review, Vol. 49, No. 3. (Dec., 1962), pp. 437–455