the Secret Service is authorized to protect the President, the Vice President, (or other individuals next in order of succession to the Office of the President), the President-elect and Vice President-elect; the immediate families of the above individuals; former Presidents, their spouses for their lifetimes, except when the spouse re-marries children of former presidents until age 16; visiting heads of foreign states or governments and their spouses traveling with them, other distinguished foreign visitors to the United States, and official representatives of the United States performing special missions abroad; major Presidential and Vice Presidential candidates, and their spouses within 120 days of a general Presidential election (United States).
In 1997, Congressional legislation became effective limiting Secret Service protection to former Presidents for a period of not more than 10 years from the date the former President leaves office, however presidents who served prior to 1997 will continue to receive lifelong protection (United States).
In addition to protecting the president and others entrusted to their watch, there are several other divisions whose responsibilities relate to the mission of protection -- protective research, the Uniformed Division, National Special Security Events, and the National Threat Assessment Center.
Integral to all security operations is protective research. Agents and specialists assigned to protective research are charged with evaluating information received from law enforcement and intelligence agencies and a variety of other sources regarding individuals or groups who may pose a threat to Secret Service protectees. They review questionable letters and email received at the White House and maintain a 24-hour operation to receive, coordinate and disseminate protection-related information (United States).
The Secret Service Uniformed Division, initially a force composed of only a few...