what does the presidents attorney general do

by Skyla Grant 8 min read

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.

What are the duties of the US Attorney General?

115 rows · The United States attorney general ( AG) leads the United States Department of Justice, and is the ...

What is the main job of the US Attorney General?

 · The attorney general is appointed directly by the president; however, like all other cabinet members, they must first be confirmed by the United States Senate before taking office. History of the ...

What is the job description of the US Attorney General?

As the D.O.J. puts it, the U.S. attorney general "represents the United States in legal matters generally and gives advice and opinions to the president and to the heads of the executive...

What are the powers of the Attorney General?

While varying from one jurisdiction to the next due to statutory and constitutional mandates, the role of attorney general typically includes: Issuing formal opinions to state agencies Acting as …

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What is the job of the president's Attorney General?

The attorney general's important roles include: Representing the United States in court cases and legal matters. Giving legal advice to the president and the Cabinet. Appearing before the Supreme Court in important legal matters involving the nation or the federal government.

Does the US attorney general represent the President?

The Attorney General is the chief law enforcement officer of the United States; she is not the president's lawyer.

What powers does the US attorney general have?

As the chief officer of the Department of Justice, the attorney general enforces federal laws, provides legal counsel in federal cases, interprets the laws that govern executive departments, heads federal jails and penal institutions, and examines alleged violations of federal laws.

Who is over the US attorney?

Randy S. GrossmanCurrent U.S. AttorneysDistrictUnited States AttorneyCalifornia, SouthernRandy S. GrossmanColoradoCole FineganConnecticutLeonard C. BoyleDelawareDavid C. Weiss89 more rows

Who is the Attorney General of the United States?

William Barr is the current Attorney General of the United States. He replaced Jeff Sessions in 2019 after President Trump fired Sessions. Barr has served as Attorney General twice, once during the George H.W. Bush administration from 1991 to 1993, and currently in the Trump administration. Barr has been consistent in his determination ...

When was the Office of the Attorney General created?

The Office of the Attorney General was created in 1789 and was intended to be a one-person position. The person in the position was supposed to be “learned in the law” and was tasked with conducting all suits in the Supreme Court and advising the president and cabinet in law-related matters.

What is the largest law office in the world?

The Department of Justice, created in 1789, has grown from a part-time, one-person office to become the world’s largest law office, encompassing sixty different agencies and offices. The Attorney General is in charge of the Department and is responsible for all aspects of the Justice Department. The head of this vast bureaucracy has enough impact to shape the way laws are treated by law enforcement professionals across the country. The Department of Justice is supposed to be independent of the presidency so that it can effectively and impartially apply the law to all citizens.

What was the name of the department that was created after the Civil War?

To mitigate the situation, Congress created the Department of Justice , an executive department with the Attorney General as its head.

How many agencies does the Department of Justice have?

The Department of Justice touches nearly every part of legal life in America, from violent crime to tax code violations, with nearly sixty separate and distinct agencies listed on the DOJ website. Other notable agencies the DOJ is responsible for include:

What is the Department of Justice?

The Department of Justice is responsible for most of the legal business of the government, and therefore, many of the law enforcement agencies throughout the country . There are six litigating divisions in the department: Antitrust.

What was Barr's role in the Iran Contra scandal?

When Barr served as Attorney General in the Bush (41) administration, he orchestrated the pardons for six people caught up in the Iran-Contra scandal. The ACLU has concluded of Barr’s record in both private and public life that “Barr amassed a record of advancing policies that advocated dragnet government surveillance, mass incarceration, and discriminatory profiling while pushing an aggressive theory of expansive executive power that sidelines Congress’ constitutional role in checking the president.”

Who was the first attorney general?

Edmund Jennings Randolph, the first U.S. attorney general, was appointed by President George Washington in 1789. Randolph was a delegate to the Continental Congress and a member of the Constitutional Convention.

Who is the attorney for the Eastern District of New York?

The position is currently held by Loretta Lynch, who was appointed by President Barack Obama in April 2015. Lynch, a Harvard University alumna, previously served as the U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of New York. Loretta Lynch Andrew Harnik/AP.

What is the role of an attorney general?

As chief legal officers of the states, commonwealths, District of Columbia, and territories of the United States, the role of an attorney general is to serve as counselor to state government agencies and legislatures, and as a representative of the public interest.

What is the role of a public advocate?

Issuing formal opinions to state agencies. Acting as public advocates in areas such as child support enforcement, consumer protections, antitrust and utility regulation. Proposing legislation. Enforcing federal and state environmental laws. Representing the state and state agencies before the state and federal courts.

What is the People's Lawyer podcast?

The People’s Lawyer is a biweekly podcast from NAAG that explores the role of state and territory attorneys general as chief legal officers and their work protecting the rule of law and the U.S. Constitution.

What is the job of the Attorney General?

The attorney general serves as the chief legal officer and chief law enforcement officer for the United States federal government . Duties of the attorney general include: Supervising government prosecutors: The US government employs a nationwide team of prosecutors, called United States Attorneys, to enforce federal law.

Who administers state laws?

State laws are administered by a state attorney general . If a criminal breaks a statewide law (but does not operate a criminal scheme that crosses state lines), the state attorney general has jurisdiction to prosecute that case and uphold applicable state laws.

Who sets the legal and criminal justice agenda for the country?

The president sets a legal and criminal justice agenda for the country, and the attorney general executes the president's vision while providing legal opinions about the feasibility of various initiatives.

When was the Department of Justice created?

The Department of Justice (DOJ) was created in 1870 during the administration of Ulysses S. Grant. However, the job of attorney general dates back to the Judiciary Act of 1789, which was passed around the time that the US Constitution was ratified. As such, the attorney general has been a cabinet position since the George Washington administration.

Which amendment states that laws are enforced by the state?

Per the Tenth Amendment to the United States Constitution, a wide array of legal matters are the dominion of individual states. State governments pass laws through a state legislature, and these laws are enforced via a state court system. As such, each individual state has its own attorney general tasked with enforcing and prosecuting state laws. ...

The head of the world's largest law enforcement agency

The attorney general is in charge of the Department of Justice, which, according to the White House, is the world's largest law enforcement office with a budget of about $25 billion.

The only Cabinet member who doesn't have the "secretary" title

All right, this is less of a role and more of a fun fact. But if you look at Cabinet positions, you'll notice all of them begin with secretary. There's the secretary of defense, secretary of education, and so on. The only exception to that rule is the attorney general.

What is the Attorney General's Office responsible for?

The Attorney-General's Office is also responsible for the drafting of legislation, and vetting of all contracts or agreements of which the government is a party , including international agreements, treaties or conventions.

What is an attorney general?

Attorneys-General in common law jurisdictions, and jurisdictions with a legal system which is partially derived from the common law tradition, share a common provenance.

Who has the power to halt prosecutions?

The Attorney General has supervisory powers over the prosecution of criminal offences, but is not personally involved with prosecutions; however, some prosecutions (e.g. riot) cannot be commenced without their consent, and they have the power to halt prosecutions generally. Criminal prosecutions are the responsibility of the Crown Prosecution Service, headed by the Director of Public Prosecutions. The Attorney General may appeal cases to the higher courts where, although the particular case is settled, there may be a point of law of public importance at issue.

Who is responsible for the administration of legal affairs in Trinidad and Tobago?

According to the Constitution of Trinidad and Tobago, the supreme law of the nation, The Attorney General shall be responsible for the administration of legal affairs in Trinidad and Tobago and legal proceedings for and against the State shall be taken— (a) in the case of civil proceedings, in the name of the Attorney General; (b) in the case of criminal proceedings, in the name of the State.

When was the Attorney General of Tonga established?

The office of Attorney General was established in Tonga in 1988, and was held jointly with the portfolio of Justice Minister until the two were separated in 2009. The Attorney General is defined as the "Chief Legal Advisor to Government".

What is the office of the Attorney General of the Philippines?

The Office of the Solicitor General is the law firm of the Republic of the Philippines. It is tasked with representing the Philippines, the Philippine Government, and all its officials in any litigation or matter requiring the services of a lawyer especially before appellate courts. It is an independent and autonomous office attached to the Department of Justice for budgetary purposes.

What is the mission of the Attorney General of Ireland?

The Mission of the Office of the Attorney General is to provide the highest standard of professional legal services to Government, Departments and Offices. The Attorney General of Ireland is the legal adviser to the Government and is therefore the chief law officer of the State.

What is the President responsible for?

Domestic Policy. The president is also responsible for overseeing all aspects of domestic policy. This includes managing the government's commitments to the people of the United States as it pertains to programs such as education and healthcare and seeing to it that the nation's economy is healthy and functional.

What is the role of the President of the United States?

The primary duty of the president of the United States is to make sure that all U.S. laws are carried out and that the federal government runs effectively. The president may not introduce new ...

What are the benefits of being a former president?

Today, former presidents are entitled to a pension, staff and office expenses, medical care or health insurance, Secret Service protection, and more. Former presidents receive a taxable pension equal to the annual salary of the President’s Cabinet secretaries and heads of other executive branch departments.

How much does the President make?

Being president is not without its perks. The president earns $400,000 per year and is, traditionally, the highest-paid federal official. They are also granted many perks. For example, they have two presidential residences to use as they please, the White House and Camp David in Maryland; an airplane, Air Force One, a helicopter, and Marine One at their disposal; and a legion of staff members including several assistants, housekeepers, and a personal chef to aid them in both their professional duties and private life.

What powers does the President have over the military?

Their powers over the military include the authority to deploy forces at their discretion, invade a country, or commit troops to stations for peacekeeping or investigative purposes with other nations. However, most military actions that a president may take require congressional approval.

What is the role of the President in foreign policy?

Foreign Policy. As the nation's chief executive, the president oversees foreign policy, but many of their powers cannot be enacted without the approval of the Senate. But with the Senate's approval, the president is authorized to make treaties with foreign nations and to appoint ambassadors to other countries and the United Nations .

What happens if the President opposes a law?

If Congress should enact a law that the president opposes, they may veto the legislation before it can become law . Congress may override the presidential veto with a two-thirds majority of those in attendance in both the Senate and House of Representatives at the time the override vote is taken.

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What Is The Role of The Attorney General?

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The Attorney General is the Head of the Justice Department and the attorney for the United States in all legal matters. They dispense legal advice to the president and the heads of other governmental agencies when requested. The Attorney General may support important cases that go to the Supreme Court of the United …
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How Does One Become Attorney General?

  • The position of Attorney General is an appointed one, nominated by the president and confirmed by the United States Senate. There is also a succession plan in place in the event there is no Attorney General due to absence or death, which allows the Deputy Attorney General to assume all powers and duties of the office. While the Deputy Attorney General would not be a confirmed …
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What Are The Most Important Powers of The Attorney General?

  • The Attorney General will provide advice and guidance to the president and other high ranking officials regarding the law and how it should be implemented. This provides the Attorney General with a great deal of power, as they would have the ability to shape how laxly or punitively the law is to be applied. As the Justice Department has such wide-reaching tentacles of power in matter…
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Who Is The Current Attorney General?

  • William Barr is the current Attorney General of the United States. He replaced Jeff Sessions in 2019 after President Trump fired Sessions. Barr has served as Attorney General twice, once during the George H.W. Bush administration from 1991 to 1993, and currently in the Trump administration. Barr has been consistent in his determination that the Executive branch claims a…
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What Agencies Are Under The Department of Justice?

  • The Department of Justice is responsible for most of the legal business of the government, and therefore, many of the law enforcement agencies throughout the country. There are six litigating divisions in the department: 1. Antitrust 2. Civil 3. Civil Rights 4. Criminal 5. Environmental and Natural Resources 6. Tax Each division is headed up by an Assistant Attorney General, and man…
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History of The Attorney General

  • The Office of the Attorney General was createdin 1789 and was intended to be a one-person position. The person in the position was supposed to be “learned in the law” and was tasked with conducting all suits in the Supreme Court and advising the president and cabinet in law-related matters. The work quickly grew, requiring the addition of multiple assistants and private attorne…
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List of Attorneys General

  1. William Barr, 2019 – Present
  2. Jeff Sessions, 2017 – 2018
  3. Loretta Lynch, 2015 – 2017
  4. Eric Holder, Jr., 2009 – 2015
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The Rantt Rundown

  • The Department of Justice, created in 1789, has grown from a part-time, one-person office to become the world’s largest law office, encompassing sixty different agencies and offices. The Attorney General is in charge of the Department and is responsible for all aspects of the Justice Department. The head of this vast bureaucracy has enough impact to shape the way laws are tr…
See more on rantt.com