Department of Justice June 2010 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Attorney General is considering amendments to the Department of Justice's ``Procedures for the Administration of Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act of 1965.'' The proposed amendments are designed to clarify the scope of section 5 review based on recent amendments to section 5, make technical clarifications and updates, and provide better guidance to covered jurisdictions and minority citizens concerning current Department practices. Interested persons are invited to participate in the consideration of these amendments.

The Department of Justice has adopted as final, without change, an interim rule that amended the regulations of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (``ATF'') to delegate to the Director of ATF the authority to serve as the deciding official regarding the denial, suspension, or revocation of federal firearms licenses, or the imposition of a civil fine. Under the interim rule, the Director has the flexibility to delegate to another ATF official the authority to decide a revocation or denial matter, or may exercise that authority himself. Because the Director can redelegate authority to take action as the final agency decision-maker to Headquarters officials, field officials, or some combination thereof, such flexibility allows ATF to more efficiently conduct denial, suspension, and revocation hearings, and make the determination whether to impose a civil fine. This gives the agency the ability to ensure consistency in