Criminal Justice Practice Exam

What was the primary purpose for the creation of the US Secret Service?

1. To combat counterfeiting

2. To protect national leaders

3. To provide witness security

4. To conduct fugitive investigations

The correct answer is: To combat counterfeiting

The primary purpose for the creation of the US Secret Service was to combat counterfeiting. Established in 1865, shortly after the end of the Civil War, the Secret Service was tasked with addressing the rampant counterfeiting that was undermining public confidence in the nation's economy. At that time, nearly one-third of all U.S. currency in circulation was counterfeit, which posed a significant threat to economic stability. The agency's focus on counterfeiting was directly tied to the need to protect the integrity of the nation’s currency, thereby helping to maintain public trust in financial transactions. While the Secret Service later took on protective duties for national leaders, including the president, its origins were firmly rooted in financial law enforcement. This foundational role in combating counterfeiting set the stage for its evolution into a multifaceted agency involved in various duties including protection and investigations. Other options like protecting national leaders and providing witness security are more recent expansions of the agency’s mission and do not reflect its original purpose when it was first established. Similarly, conducting fugitive investigations falls outside the primary focus that led to the Secret Service’s creation.