The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is a pivotal regulatory body in the United States, tasked with overseeing and enforcing federal securities laws. Its primary mission is to protect investors, maintain fair, orderly, and efficient markets, and facilitate capital formation. Established in the wake of the Great Depression, the SEC seeks to instill confidence in the U.S. securities markets by ensuring transparency, integrity, and accountability. It regulates a wide array of financial entities and activities, including stock exchanges, broker-dealers, investment advisors, mutual funds, and public companies. The SEC is instrumental in preventing fraud, insider trading, and other malpractices that could undermine investor trust and the functioning of the financial markets. Through its comprehensive regulatory framework, the SEC plays a critical role in sustaining the health and stability of the U.S. economy.