The FBI seal, the emblem of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, is a circular design with a dark blue field and a serrated gold border. The outer ring bears the names of the Department of Justice and the Federal Bureau of Investigation in white lettering. At the center is a shield featuring the scales of justice and red and white stripes, surrounded by two green laurel branches and 13 gold stars. The stars represent the original 13 U.S. states, while the 46 laurel leaves correspond to the number of states in the Union when the Bureau was founded. A white ribbon beneath the shield bears the motto “Fidelity, Bravery, Integrity.” The Bureau initially used the Department of Justice seal and adopted its own version, featuring the agency’s name and motto, in 1935. Special Agent and artist Leo Gauthier designed the present seal in 1940. It has remained virtually unchanged since 1941.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is a U.S. federal law enforcement agency and domestic intelligence service within the Department of Justice. Its history began on July 26, 1908, with the creation of a special force of investigators at the initiative of Attorney General Charles Bonaparte. The agency received its current name in 1935. The FBI investigates federal crimes and works to counter terrorism, espionage, cybercrime, corruption and organized crime. The Bureau also collects and analyzes intelligence, conducts forensic examinations and assists other law enforcement agencies. Its operations extend across the United States, while international cooperation is conducted through a network of overseas offices.
