what is role of calfornia's attorney general and is it an appointed position or chosen by voters

by Walker Runte 10 min read

Attorneys general are the top legal officers of their state or territory. They advise and represent their legislature and state agencies and act as the “People's Lawyer” for the citizens. Most are elected, though a few are appointed by the governor. Select your state to connect to your state attorney general's website.

What does the California Attorney General do?

The Attorney General is the state's top lawyer and law enforcement official, protecting and serving the people and interests of California through a broad range of duties. The Attorney General's responsibilities include safeguarding the public from violent criminals, preserving California's spectacular...

What is the role of the Attorney General in law enforcement?

Attorney General (state executive office) In most states, the attorney general has a substantial influence on a state's approach to law enforcement. Attorneys general often set particular law enforcement priorities (e.g. drug law, civil rights violations or sexual crime) and focus extra resources on these issues.

Who is California’s new Attorney General and first Filipino American?

Gov. Gavin Newsom tapped Bonta last year to be the first Filipino American to serve as California attorney general after then-Atty. Gen. Xavier Becerra was appointed U.S. Health and Human Services secretary.

How is the Attorney General elected in each state?

The attorney general is directly elected in 43 states and Washington, D.C. The attorney general is appointed by the state Legislature in Maine, by the state Supreme Court in Tennessee, and by the governor in the remaining five states.

What is the role of the California attorney general?

The Attorney General's responsibilities include safeguarding Californians from harm and promoting community safety, preserving California's spectacular natural resources, enforcing civil rights laws, and helping victims of identity theft, mortgage-related fraud, illegal business practices, and other consumer crimes.

What is the role of Attorney General?

Who is Attorney General of India? Article 76 of the constitution mentions that he/she is the highest law officer of India. As a chief legal advisor to the government of India, he advises the union government on all legal matters. He also is the primary lawyer representing Union Government in the Supreme Court of India.

Is US attorney general appointed or elected?

The attorney general is a statutory member of the Cabinet of the United States. Washington, D.C. 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.

What is the role of a state's Attorney General quizlet?

The state attorney general in each of the 50 U.S. states and territories is the chief legal advisor to the state government and the state's chief law enforcement officer. a public official who acts as prosecutor for the state or the federal government in court in a particular district.

Who is the California state Attorney General?

On April 23, 2021, Rob Bonta was sworn in as the 34th Attorney General of the State of California, the first person of Filipino descent and the second Asian-American to occupy the position.

What are the powers of the Attorney General of the Federation?

POWERS OF ATTORNEY GENERAL OF FEDERATION TO ENGAGE COUNSEL The constitutional power vested on the AGF under Section 174 of the 1999 CFRN (as amended) is in respect of prosecution of criminal matters without any express provisions in respect of civil matters.

How are US attorneys appointed?

U.S. Attorneys are appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate, and they serve terms of four years or at the President's discretion.

Who is above the district attorney?

In practice, district attorneys, who prosecute the bulk of criminal cases in the United States, answer to no one. The state attorney general is the highest law enforcement officer in state government and often has the power to review complaints about unethical and illegal conduct on the part of district attorneys.

Who is the head of the DOJ?

Attorney General GarlandMeet the Attorney General As the nation's chief law enforcement officer, Attorney General Garland leads the Justice Department's 115,000 employees, who work across the United States and in more than 50 countries worldwide.

What role should politics play in the selection of US attorneys?

Both the Constitution and enabling legislation give the power to appoint United States attorneys to the president, subject to the Senate's "advice and consent." In practice, the senators of the president's political party from a given state often make the initial selection of a candidate for United States attorney.

Who is considered a state's head law enforcement officer quizlet?

The highest-ranking law enforcement official within a system; the sheriff is the chief law enforcement officer of a county, the attorney general is the chief law enforcement officer of a state, and the U.S. attorney general is the chief law enforcement officer of the United States.

What is the title of the state's chief legal officer quizlet?

All called a prosecuting attorney. They charge suspects with crimes and attempt to convict them in court. in each state, is a chief legal advisor to the state government and the states chief law enforcement officer. You just studied 29 terms!

What is the job of the Attorney General of California?

Duties. The attorney general acts as the state's chief law officer and oversees the California Department of Justice. He or she supervises the state's district and city attorneys, as well as its law enforcement officers.

What does the Attorney General do?

Further, the attorney general plays a direct role in law enforcement efforts and "coordinates statewide narcotics enforcement efforts, participates in criminal investigations and provides forensic science services, identification and information services and telecommunication support.".

How to become an attorney general?

Additionally, each candidate for attorney general must: 1 Be a registered voter 2 Be registered with their party for at least three months#N#Not have been registered with a different political party in the last 12 months 3 Not have been previously term-limited out

How many terms can a governor serve in California?

No Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, Controller, Secretary of State, or Treasurer may serve in the same office for more than 2 terms.

How are the salaries of California elected executives determined?

The salaries of California's elected executives are determined by the California Citizens Compensation Commission, a seven-member board appointed by the governor to six-year terms. The commission was established after voters passed Proposition 112, an amendment to the California Constitution, in 1990.

What happens when a governor vacancy occurs?

When a vacancy occurs, the governor nominates a replacement to serve the remainder of the term under the next election. The appointee must be confirmed by a majority of both house of the California legislature. Until the replacement is approved, the former officeholder's chief deputy exercises the office.

When is the attorney general election?

Elections. Attorneys general are elected on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in federal midterm election years, e.g. 2018, 2022, 2026 and 2030. Like all constitutional state officers, the attorney general assumes office on the first Monday in the new year following the election.

What is the office of the Attorney General?

The Attorney General is the state's top lawyer and law enforcement official, protecting and serving the people and interests of California through a broad range of duties. The Attorney General's responsibilities include safeguarding Californians from harm and promoting community safety, ...

What does the judicial officer do?

Serves as legal counsel to state officers and, with few exceptions, to state agencies, boards and commissions. Assists district attorneys, local law enforcement and federal and international criminal justice agencies in the administration of justice.

How long is the term of the Attorney General?

Under the state Constitution, the Attorney General is elected to a four-year term in the same statewide election as the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Controller, Secretary of State, Treasurer, Superintendent of Public Instruction, and Insurance Commissioner.

What is the role of the Attorney General of California?

The California Attorney General is a legal and administrative position undertaken by the appointed individual serving as the primary attorney – or California lawyers – on behalf of the State of California; the appointment of the Attorney General California takes place through a statewide election. Although the Attorney General California undertakes ...

Where is the CA Attorney General located?

The Office of the Attorney General of the State of California is located in the State Capitol Building in Sacramento, California.

What is the common law in California?

Common Law and the California Attorney General. The California Attorney General is identified as an officer within the legal realm of Common Law, which is the legal field and ideology considered to rely on past legal statutes, sentencing, and judicial review to serve as guidelines for sentencing; both the reference and respect ...

What is administrative law?

Administrative Law is the legal field associated with events and circumstances in which Federal and State Governments of the United States interact with their respective citizens, including the administration of government programs, the creation of agencies, the establishment of a legal, ...

What is the California Department of Justice?

The California Constitution establishes the Attorney General as the state's chief law officer, responsible for ensuring that the laws of the state are uniformly and adequately enforced.

What is the Department of Justice?

The Department of Justice is committed to fostering and maintaining an engaged and inclusive organizational culture that celebrates shared values and diversity, which are integral to excellence.

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 happens if there is no Attorney General?

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 Attorney General, they would have all of the powers of the office at hand as interim Attorney ...

How many times has Barr been Attorney General?

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 absolute executive authority, contrary to our system of checks and balances.

What did Barr do to preserve the power of the Trump presidency?

In addition, Barr has indicated he is willing to do whatever it takes to preserve the power of the Trump presidency, even if constitutional violations occur. Barr began his tenure last year by lying about the content of Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s report.

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.

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.

Why should the Justice Department not be politicized?

The Department of Justice should be arguing to uphold the law and the office should not be politicized due to presidential influence or pressure. The Justice Department is supposed to be an independent agency and not subject to the pressure of the executive branch.

What is the job of the Attorney General?

The attorney general is an executive office in all 50 states and Washington, D.C., that serves as the chief legal advisor and chief law enforcement officer for the state government and is empowered to prosecute violations of state law, represent the state in legal disputes and issue legal advice to state agencies and the legislature.

Which states have elected an attorney general in 2015?

Three states held elections for attorney general in 2015: Kentucky, Louisiana and Mississippi. In Kentucky, Andy Beshear (D) won election to the attorney general seat. Democrat Jim Hood was re-elected in Mississippi, while Republican Jeff Landry defeated incumbent Buddy Caldwell, also a Republican, in a runoff in Louisiana.

How many states have an attorney general?

The attorney general is directly elected in 43 states and Washington, D.C. The attorney general is appointed by the state Legislature in Maine, by the state Supreme Court in Tennessee, and by the governor in the remaining five states. Compensation of state attorneys general (2017)

How many states have the power to appeal a criminal case?

Attorneys general: Power to represent state in criminal appeals. The attorney general has the power to represent the state in criminal appeals in 46 states, although this power is restricted in five of those states. Attorney general term limits. Attorney general term limits.

Who appointed Ellen Rosenblum as the Attorney General?

Gov. John Kitzhaber appointed Ellen Rosenblum, who was running for 2012 election to the attorney general post at the time, to serve as interim attorney general for the remainder of his unexpired term. Rosenblum was elected to a full term in the general election on November 6, 2012.

Who ran for governor in 2012?

Two - Montana AG Steve Bullock (D) and Washington AG Rob McKenna (R) - ran for the governorship in their respective states in 2012. One - Utah AG Mark Shurtleff (R) - retired from office. One - 2011 appointee Pennsylvania AG Linda Kelly (R) - did not run for election due to the terms of her Senate confirmation.

Does Ballotpedia curate or endorse articles?

These results are automatically generated from Google. Ballotpedia does not curate or endorse these articles.

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 a state attorney general?

Each state's attorney general is charged with the responsibility of enforcing the laws, as well as the ability to pass new legislation. The state attorney general also has the higher purpose of protecting the people of the state and their interests. Attorney general duties include providing consumer ...

Why do you need a bio for an attorney general?

Or if they are appointed to the job, they need an outstanding bio in order to be noticed for the appointment. The job of state attorney general isn't like jobs in private business, where employees receive performance reviews that may lead to a salary raise.

How many times does the Attorney General meet with the Attorney General?

The attorney general of each state also attends meetings where all the state attorneys convene, such as those of the National Association of Attorneys General, usually two to three times each year. They discuss issues relevant to all the attorneys general and listen to speakers talk about selected topics.

Can an AG handle all of the judicial divisions?

Of course, a state AG can't handle all of these tasks single-handedly. AGs rely on the heads of different divisions within the state's judicial system. These typically include civil, criminal, fraud and family divisions, in addition to the executive office and possibly other divisions depending on the state. The attorney general of each state also ...

Do state attorneys general work full time?

With so much to be accomplished, state attorneys general work full-time and often work overtime. They are on the go much of the time, rather than sitting behind a desk. The job can be a stressful one. Whether elected or appointed to the position, the AG has many people to keep happy.

Do all state AGs have a law degree?

State AGs are usually lawyers who typically have trial experience, either as prosecutors or in private practice. By law, though, 19 states do not have provisions mandating that their AG must have a law degree. Nevertheless, all of the AGs in those states do have law degrees and experience as a lawyer.

Current Officeholder

Authority

Qualifications

  • State law requires that the attorney general be admitted to practice before the California Supreme Courtfor five years before election. California Government Code, Section 12503 Additionally, each candidate for attorney general must: 1. Be a registered voter 2. Be registered with their party for at least three months 2.1. Not have been registered with a different political party in the last 12 mo…
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Elections

  • Attorneys general are elected on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in federal midterm election years, e.g. 2018, 2022, 2026 and 2030.Like all constitutional state officers, the attorney general assumes office on the first Monday in the new year following the election. California Constitution, Article 5, Section 11
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Vacancies

  • The vacancy procedure for the office of attorney general is determined by the Constitution. When a vacancy occurs, the governornominates a replacement to serve the remainder of the term under the next election. The appointee must be confirmed by a majority of both house of the California legislature. Until the replacement is approved, the former officeholder's chief deputy exercises th…
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Duties

  • The attorney general acts as the state's chief law officer and oversees the California Department of Justice. He or she supervises the state's district and city attorneys, as well as its law enforcement officers. The attorney general may personally prosecute any case that would normally be handled by a district or city attorney and represents the s...
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Divisions

  • As of January 12, 2021, the California Attorney General's Office is composed of the following divisions. 1. Public Safety 2. Opinions and Quo Warranto 3. Research Advisory Panel 4. Research Center 5. Children & Families 6. Civil Rights 7. Consumer Protection 8. Environment & Public Health
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Historical Officeholders

  • There have been 33 California attorneys general since 1849. Of the 32 officeholders, 19 were Democrat, 13 were Republican and one was American Independent.
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Recent News

  • The link below is to the most recent stories in a Google news search for the terms California Attorney General Rob Bonta.These results are automatically generated from Google. Ballotpedia does not curate or endorse these articles.
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Contact Information

  • Physical address: Attorney General's Office California Department of Justice Attention: Public Inquiry Unit Post Office Box 944255 Sacramento, CA 94244-2550 Phone: 916-210-6276 Fax:916-323-5341
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