how is attorney general confirmed

by Nayeli Turcotte 3 min read

The attorney general is a statutory member of the Cabinet of the United States. Under the Appointments Clause of the United States Constitution, the officeholder is nominated by the president of the United States, then appointed with the advice and consent of the United States Senate.

Should Attorney General nominee Merrick Garland be confirmed quickly?

Feb 04, 2021 · President Joe Biden (D) announced Merrick Garland was his nominee for U.S. attorney general on January 7, 2021. This presidential appointment required Senate confirmation. The Senate Judiciary Committee held Garland's confirmation hearing for February 22-23, 2021. The Senate confirmed him on March 10, 2021, by a vote of 70-30.

Who is the Attorney General of the US?

Mar 10, 2021 · Attorney General nominee Merrick Garland testifies during his confirmation hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee, Washington, DC, February 22, 2021.

Who was Acting Attorney General during Mukasey's confirmation?

Feb 23, 2021 · If confirmed as attorney general, Judge Merrick Garland will be tasked with leading a Department of Justice that has faced multiple controversies.

What is the confirmation process for Supreme Court nominees?

Mar 01, 2021 · U.S. Circuit Judge Merrick Garland, President Joe Biden's nominee for attorney general, is sworn in at his confirmation hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee on …

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How is the Attorney General appointed?

They are appointed by the President of India on the advice of the Union Cabinet under Article 76(1) of the Constitution and hold office during the pleasure of the President.

Can the President fire the Attorney General?

The President of the United States has the authority to appoint U.S. Attorneys, with the consent of the United States Senate, and the President may remove U.S. Attorneys from office. In the event of a vacancy, the United States Attorney General is authorized to appoint an interim U.S. Attorney.

Do US attorneys get confirmed?

The U.S. attorney is appointed by the President of the United States for a term of four years, with appointments subject to confirmation by the Senate.

Is the deputy attorney general confirmed by the Senate?

The deputy attorney general is a political appointee of the President of the United States and takes office after confirmation by the United States Senate. The position was created in 1950.

How is Attorney General removed?

He can be removed by the President at any time. He can quit by submitting his resignation only to the President. Since he is appointed by the President on the advice of the Council of Ministers, conventionally he is removed when the council is dissolved or replaced.

Has a US attorney general ever been impeached?

Attorneys General. While impeachment proceedings against cabinet secretaries is an exceedingly rare event, no office has provoked the ire of the House of Representatives than that of Attorney General. During the first fifth of the 21st century, no less than three Attorneys General have been subjected to the process.

What power does the US attorney general have?

The Attorney General of the United States – appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate – heads the DOJ with its more than 100,000 attorneys, special agents, and other staff. It represents the United States in federal criminal and civil litigation, and provides legal advice to the President and Cabinet.

What does the US attorney general investigate?

The attorney general, in essence, runs a large law firm with broad scope that includes investigating drug traffickers, Medicaid fraud and prescription drug abuse.Apr 24, 2016

What does the attorney general do?

The principal duties of the Attorney General are to: Represent the United States in legal matters. Supervise and direct the administration and operation of the offices, boards, divisions, and bureaus that comprise the Department.Oct 8, 2021

Who is the highest ranking attorney?

The United States attorney general (AG) leads the United States Department of Justice, and is the chief lawyer of the federal government of the United States. The attorney general serves as the principal advisor to the president of the United States on all legal matters.

Who is under the US attorney general?

United States Department of JusticeAgency overviewEmployees113,114 (2019)Annual budget$29.9 billion (FY 2019)Agency executivesMerrick Garland, Attorney General Lisa Monaco, Deputy Attorney General Vanita Gupta, Associate Attorney General Elizabeth Prelogar, Solicitor GeneralWebsiteJustice.gov8 more rows

Who is second in command at DOJ?

Lisa O. MonacoLisa O. Monaco is the 39th Deputy Attorney General of the United States. As the Deputy Attorney General, she is the Department's second-ranking official and is responsible for the overall supervision of the Department.Feb 17, 2022

What is the job of the Attorney General?

The attorney general serves as the principal advisor to the president of the United Stateson all legal matters. The attorney general is a statutory member of the Cabinet of the United States.

Is "general" a noun?

The title "attorney general" is an example of a noun (attorney) followed by a postpositive adjective(general).[8]". General" is a description of the type of attorney, not a title or rank in itself (as it would be in the military).[8]

Who is the Attorney General nominee for Biden?

From CNN's Kristen Holmes and Clare Foran. President Biden's Attorney General nominee Merrick Garland isn't the only nominee facing the Senate this week.

When is Merrick Garland's confirmation hearing?

From CNN's Christina Carrega. Wade Henderson testifies during Merrick Garland's confirmation hearing, on Tuesday, February 23. Pool.

What was Judge Garland asked to do?

Judge Merrick Garland was asked to define systemic racism, implicit bias and racism during the first day of his Senate confirmation hearing on Monday, and his answers laid out a stark contrast with the last Senate-confirmed attorney general from the Trump administration.

Who is the special counsel for Garland?

John Cornyn what advice he'd give Garland on handling the ongoing investigation into the FBI's Russia investigation that's being handled by Special Counsel John Durham.

Who is Wade Henderson?

Wade Henderson, the interim president and CEO of The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights fully supports Garland "and without reservation ... however this support does not come without expectation for prompt and meaningful action on civil and human rights.".

Who was Bill Barr's friend?

One of Barr's closest friends, George Terwilliger, who served as deputy attorney general in Barr's first tenure as attorney general, says: "Bill knew what he was getting in for, and I think he navigated it as well as he could.".

Is Merrick Garland confirmed?

The second day of Attorney General nominee Merrick Garland's confirmation hearing has wrapped. Outside witnesses testified before the Judiciary Committee about Garland's qualifications for the post, and raised issues they believe he should tackle if confirmed.

Who is the attorney general nominee for Biden?

6 a top priority. U.S. Circuit Judge Merrick Garland, President Joe Biden's nominee for attorney general, is sworn in at his confirmation hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee on Feb. 22.

What would Garland do if he was confirmed?

Garland testified before the panel last week about how he would lead the Justice Department if he is confirmed by the Senate, reassuring senators that he would protect the department's independence and not allow politics to interfere with the job.

How long has Judge Garland been on the Supreme Court?

Garland, 68, has been a judge on the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia since 1997 and was its chief judge from 2013 to 2020. Republicans opted not to consider his nomination by former President Barack Obama to the Supreme Court in 2016.

Who was the Republican nominee for Garland?

Garland's nomination was reported out of the Democratic-led committee in a bipartisan 15-7 vote. Republicans Chuck Grassley of Iowa, the ranking member of the committee, Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, John Cornyn of Texas and Thom Tillis of North Carolina joined all Democrats on the panel in supporting the nomination.

Who is Rebecca Shabad?

Rebecca Shabad is a congressional reporter for NBC News , based in Washington.

Who is the attorney general nominee for 2021?

Judge Merrick Garland, nominated to be attorney general, listens as US President-elect Joe Biden ...

When will Judge Garland be confirmed?

Circuit Judge Merrick Garland, five years after failing to receive a hearing for his doomed Supreme Court nomination, now has a hearing date for his nomination for attorney general and is poised to be confirmed by early March.

When is Garland's hearing?

Garland’s hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee will be Feb. 22, followed by a second hearing day on Feb. 23 for outside witnesses, according to a schedule released by Sens. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) and Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), the chair and ranking member of the committee respectively.

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Overview

Presidential transition

It is the practice for the attorney general, along with the other Cabinet secretaries and high-level political appointees of the President, to tender a resignation with effect on the Inauguration Day (January 20) of a new president. The deputy attorney general is also expected to tender a resignation, but is commonly requested to stay on and act as the attorney general pending the confirmation by the Senate of the new attorney general.

History

Congress passed the Judiciary Act of 1789 which, among other things, established the Office of the Attorney General. The original duties of this officer were "to prosecute and conduct all suits in the Supreme Court in which the United States shall be concerned, and to give his advice and opinion upon questions of law when required by the president of the United States, or when requested by the heads of any of the departments". Some of these duties have since been transferred to the U…

Line of succession

U.S.C. Title 28, §508 establishes the first two positions in the line of succession, while allowing the attorney general to designate other high-ranking officers of the Department of Justice as subsequent successors. Furthermore, an Executive Order defines subsequent positions, the most recent from March 31, 2017, signed by President Donald Trump. The current line of succession is:
1. United States Deputy Attorney General

See also

• Executive Order 13787 for "Providing an Order of Succession Within the Department of Justice"