The authorities involved in the administration of criminal justice in the United States include judges, laypersons, special courts, the highest courts, prosecuting authorities, defense personnel, police, and various other governmental bodies. This article describes the methods used by these authorities, their powers, financial support, and relevant political considerations. Also, responses by authorities to various developments in the pattern of criminal activity are analyzed; and where appropriate, differences between the organization of the U.S. judicial system and that of other countries are indicated. Section I provides a brief overview of the structure of the U.S. criminal justice system, with an emphasis on the fragmented nature of the criminal law. Although inefficient, this fragmentation is a requisite, given the federated nature of the union. Section II focuses on the authorities responsible for enforcing the criminal law, pointing out unique aspects of the actors in the criminal law process. Section III summarizes some recent congressional forays into criminal law that have impacted both national and international activity. The statutes discussed in this section indicate that Congress desires to nationalize certain aspects of crime that transcend State boundaries. 352 footnotes.