The courts
grand jury
A panel of citizens that decides whether there is probable cause to charge someone with a serious federal crime. It hears only the prosecution's side, in secret.
In full
The Fifth Amendment requires a grand jury indictment for federal felonies. Proceedings are secret, the defense is absent, the rules of evidence do not fully apply, and the standard is probable cause, which is why grand juries almost always indict. They also carry real investigative power, since a grand jury subpoena can compel testimony and documents.
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A plain-language explanation for civic education, not legal advice. When in doubt, the official source named above controls.