| ted States exists with a federal system. As such, | | | | federal crime. However, when the crime crosses |
| there are frequently areas where the federal | | | | state lines or involves the USPS, it can become a |
| government steps in to try and to punish an | | | | federal crime. |
| individual accused, and then convicted, of a crime. | | | | Another way to make an ordinary or state crime |
| Not just any crime can be taken over by the | | | | a federal crime is to involve items of interstate |
| federal system, but the number is ever | | | | commerce. For example, the Mann Act, passed |
| expanding. | | | | near the turn of the twentieth century, makes it |
| A federal crime or federal offense, in the United | | | | a federal crime to transport women across state |
| States, is a crime that has been made illegal by | | | | lines for the purposes of prostitution. By crossing |
| the United States Congress via legislation or a | | | | state lines and making this form of commerce |
| crime that was committed on federally owned or | | | | interstate as opposed as intrastate, a person has |
| operated property. Congress has the power to | | | | invoked the jurisdiction of Congress, who has |
| designate an action as a crime through its ability | | | | been given the ability to regulate interstate |
| to legislate. | | | | commerce by the Constitution. |
| While originally crimes were created by the | | | | A series of murders that take place across state |
| courts, called common law crimes, with the | | | | lines may also become a federal crime. This is to |
| advent of legislatures and increasingly complex | | | | prevent the individual from facing multiple crimes |
| societies, the legislatures have taken it upon | | | | in multiple states. This ensures some degree of |
| themselves to legislate more crimes. These | | | | judicial efficiency. Drug crimes can also become |
| crimes are referred to as statutory crimes. | | | | federal crimes if the FBI or some other agency |
| If the federal government gets involved in the | | | | gets involved. |
| investigation of a crime, the Federal Bureau of | | | | Other crimes that may be federal include |
| Investigation, or FBI, typically takes over this | | | | kidnapping, art theft, arson, tax evasion, and |
| responsibility. The FBI has broad powers to | | | | counterfeiting. A crime that has been added to |
| investigate federal offenses. | | | | the list of federal crimes more recently is the |
| Not just any crime in a category can be classified | | | | crime of assassinating or attempting to |
| as a federal crime. For example, mail fraud that | | | | assassinate the president. While this seems like an |
| stays within one state and does not involve the | | | | obvious one, it was not added until President |
| United States Postal Service does not qualify as a | | | | Kennedy was assassinated. |