Secret Service

The major powers and responsibilities of the U.S. Secret Service are defined in section 3056, Title 18, United States Code. The investigative responsibilities are to detect and arrest persons committing any offense against the laws of the United States relating to coins obligations, and securities of the United States and of foreign governments; and to detect and arrest persons violating certain laws relating to the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, Federal land banks, electronic fund transfer frauds, credit and debit card frauds, false identification documents. The protective responsibilities include protection of the President of the United States and the members of his immediate family; the President-elect and the members of his immediate family unless the members decline such protection; the Vice President or other officer next in the order of succession to the Office of the President, and the members of his immediate family unless the members decline such protection; the Vice President-elect, and the members of his immediate family unless the members decline such protection; a former President and his wife during his lifetime; the widow of a former President until her death or remarriage; the minor children of a former President until they reach 16 years of age, unless such protection is declined; a visiting head of a foreign state or foreign government and, at the direction of the President, other distinguished foreign visitors to the United States and official representatives of the United States performing special missions abroad. In addition, 18 U.S.C.A. No. 3056 authorizes the Secret Service to protect major Presidential and Vice Presidential candidates, unless such protection is declined; the spouse of a major Presidential or Vice Presidential nominee, except that such protection shall not commence more than 120 days prior to the general Presidential election