<P> In accordance with the federal, as opposed to unitary or confederal, structure of the United States government, the national (federal) government is not authorized to execute general police powers by the Constitution of the United States of America . Each of the United States' 50 federated states (referred to simply as' states' in the United States despite their lack of full sovereignty) retain their own police, military and domestic law - making powers . The US Constitution gives the federal government the power to deal with foreign affairs and interstate affairs (affairs between the states). For policing, this means that if a non-federal crime is committed in a US state and the fugitive does not flee the state, the federal government has no jurisdiction . However, once the fugitive crosses a state line he violates the federal law of interstate flight and is subject to federal jurisdiction, at which time federal law enforcement agencies may become involved . </P> <P> Most states operate statewide government agencies that provide law enforcement duties, including investigations and state patrols . They may be called state police or highway patrol, and are normally part of the state Department of Public Safety . In addition, the Attorney General's office of each state has its own state bureau of investigation . In Texas, the Texas Ranger Division fulfill this role though they have their history in the period before Texas became a state . </P> <P> Various departments of state governments may have their own enforcement divisions, such as capitol police, campus police, state hospitals, Departments of Correction, water police, environmental (fish and game / wildlife) game wardens or conservation officers (who have full police powers and statewide jurisdiction). In Colorado, for instance, the Department of Revenue has its own investigative branch, as do many of the state - funded universities . </P> <P> Also known as parishes and boroughs, county law enforcement is provided by sheriffs' departments or offices and county police . </P>

How many different law enforcement agencies are there in the us