what role does the attorney general play in the executive branch?

by Gregoria Boehm 9 min read

The Attorney General is the head of the DOJ and chief law enforcement officer of the federal government. The Attorney General represents the United States in legal matters, advises the President and the heads of the executive departments of the government, and occasionally appears in person before the Supreme Court.

Is the Attorney General part of the executive branch?

In one important respect, however, her role differs from that of other cabinet members. While all cabinet members provide expertise and advice to the executive branch, the Attorney General’s role requires greater independence. Senator Patrick Leahy, former Chairman of the United States Senate Judiciary Committee, has explained:

What is the role of the Attorney General?

Nov 01, 2014 · The Attorney General is part of the executive branch. The Attorney General is in charge of the Department of Justice (commonly known as the DOJ). Among other things, the DOJ enforces federal criminal law in the United States. Federal prosecutors who work for the DOJ are called United States Attorneys.

Who is the head of the Department of Justice?

The Attorney General is the head of the DOJ and chief law enforcement officer of the federal government. The Attorney General represents the United States in legal matters, advises the President and the heads of the executive departments of the government, and occasionally appears in person before the Supreme Court.

What are the powers of the executive branch?

A state attorney general's office is typically a part of the executive branch of the state government. He or she is generally entrusted with the duties of prosecuting suits and proceedings involving state government and advising the governor and other administrative officers of the state government.

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What role does the attorney general play?

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.

Is the attorney general part of the executive?

Every government department and agency and the Ministers responsible for every government department are all part of the executive. ... For example, the Attorney General is responsible for the legal system and the Minister for Defence is responsible for the army, navy and air force and for the Department of Defence.

Who makes up the executive branch?

the PresidentThe executive branch consists of the President, his or her advisors and various departments and agencies. This branch is responsible for enforcing the laws of the land.

What are the 4 major things that the executive branch does?

The head of the executive branch is the president of the United States, whose powers include being able to veto, or reject, a proposal for a law; appoint federal posts, such as members of government agencies; negotiate foreign treaties with other countries; appoint federal judges; and grant pardons, or forgiveness, for ...Jul 16, 2015

What is the role of the Attorney General?

Attorneys throughout the country, the Attorney General may provide guidance interpreting the law to assist in prosecuting or defending the United States in legal proceedings. The Attorney General also oversees the federal prison system and all of the systems that pertain to it.

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.

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.

Who is in charge of the Justice Department?

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.

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.

Who is Marissa Jordan?

Marissa Jordan is an accountant and freelance writer interested in current events, economics, and science. Formerly, she wrote for technical blogs on specialized software. When not writing or accounting, she likes spending time with family, reading, and trivia.

What branch is the Vice President in?

The Vice President is also part of the Executive Branch, ready to assume the Presidency should the need arise. The Cabinet and independent federal agencies are responsible for the day-to-day enforcement and administration of federal laws.

Where does the Vice President of the United States live?

Like the President, he also maintains an official residence, at the United States Naval Observatory in Northwest Washington, D.C.

Who is the Executive Branch?

The Executive Branch. From the President, to the Vice President, to the Cabinet, learn more about the Executive Branch of the government of the United States. The power of the Executive Branch is vested in the President of the United States, who also acts as head of state and Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces.

Does the Vice President have a limousine?

The Vice President also has his own limousine , operated by the United States Secret Service, and flies on the same aircraft the President uses — but when the Vice President is aboard, the craft are referred to as Air Force Two and Marine Two. Executive Office of the President.

What is the President responsible for?

Under Article II of the Constitution, the President is responsible for the execution and enforcement of the laws created by Congress. Fifteen executive departments — each led by an appointed member of the President's Cabinet — carry out the day-to-day administration of the federal government.

Who is the head of the DOJ?

The Attorney General is the head of the DOJ and chief law enforcement officer of the federal government. The Attorney General represents the United States in legal matters, advises the President and the heads of the executive departments of the government, and occasionally appears in person before the Supreme Court.

What is the Executive Office of the President?

The Executive Office of the President (EOP) consists of the immediate staff to the President, along with entities such as the Office of Management and Budget and the Office of the United States Trade Representative.

What is the job of an attorney general?

Attorney General. The chief law enforcement officer of the United States or of a state government, typically serving in an Executive Branch position. The individual represents the government in litigation and serves as the principal advisor to government officials and agencies in legal matters.

When was the Attorney General created?

The office of the attorney general was created by the First Congress in the Judiciary Act of 1789 (An Act to Establish the Judicial Courts of the United States, ch. 20, § 35, 1 Stat. 73, 92–93). The First Congress did not expect the attorney general—a part-time employee with scant pay, no staff, and little power—to play a major role in ...

What is the role of the Solicitor General?

The June 22, 1870, law created a new position, that of Solicitor General, whose holder is in charge of representing the government in suits and appeals in the Supreme Court and in lower federal trial and appellate courts, in cases involving the interests of the United States.

When was the Department of Justice created?

A department of justice was first suggested in 1851 by Alex H. H. Stuart, secretary of the newly established department of the interior.

What is the power of the legislative branch?

Real power in a government lies with the legislative branch. When a candidate for the presidency or a governorship campaigns for office and says things like, “If elected, I will lower your taxes,” that’s not possible. The president or a governor does not have the power to do that alone. Only Congress can do that at the federal level, or the legislature at the state level, when it comes to state taxes.

How many branches of government are there?

The United States government, along with state governments, are often said to have three branches: the executive branch, the legislative branch and the judicial branch. The executive branch of the federal or state government has limited powers, with most of the power reserved for Congress or the state legislature, ...

Which branch of government enforces laws?

In addition to supporting legislation, the executive branch of a government carries out and enforces laws, according to USA.gov. It does this through its various executive agencies and department heads, as well as the government’s attorney general and the federal Justice Department. The executive branch manages the administration of a government.

Who is the leader of the executive branch?

A president or governor is the leader of the executive branch and appoints his or her cabinet, consisting of top-level advisors. Typically a cabinet includes the vice president or lieutenant governor, department or agency heads and other high-ranking government officials. The president’s cabinet members must be approved by the Senate.

What are the federal agencies?

Federal agencies include the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Federal Trade Commission and Federal Communications Commission. The president nominates secretaries to run these organizations, and Congress approves or denies the nominations. These agencies comprise what some call the “administrative branch” of government.

Who nominates the Supreme Court?

The president nominates district court judges, appeals court judges and Supreme Court justices, who are all part of the judicial branch of the federal government. These judges must be approved by Congress after being interviewed in public, explains Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts.

What can a president do if a law is unconstitutional?

If a legislature passes a law that people believe is unconstitutional, they can ask the courts to overturn the legislation by ruling that it’s unconstitutional.

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What Is The Role of The Attorney General?

  • 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 States if the case is deemed important in nature. The Att…
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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…
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