who does the us attorney general report to

by Regan Boehm 3 min read

President of the United States

What are the duties of the Attorney General?

115 rows · 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. The attorney general is a statutory member of the Cabinet of the United ...

Who can arrest the US Attorney General?

Mar 12, 2021 · About the Office. The Judiciary Act of 1789 created the Office of the Attorney General which evolved over the years into the head of the Department of Justice and chief law enforcement officer of the Federal Government. The Attorney General represents the United States in legal matters generally and gives advice and opinions to the President and to the …

What are the responsibilities of the US Attorney General?

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 is the job description of the Attorney General?

Feb 16, 2022 · The United States Attorney is responsible for a wide variety of prosecutions consistent with the priorities set by the Attorney General of the United States and exercises wide discretion in the use of her resources to meet the needs of the communities in the Western District of Texas. Assistant U.S. Attorneys working at the direction of the ...

image

Who is in charge of the us Department of Justice?

Attorney General Merrick B. Garland
Attorney General Merrick B. Garland was sworn in as the 86th Attorney General of the United States on March 11, 2021. 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.

Is the U.S. Attorney General appointed by the president?

The United States attorney general is the head of the U.S. Department of Justice. The position requires a presidential nomination and subsequent confirmation by the United States Senate.

Is the attorney general above the FBI?

Within the U.S. Department of Justice, the FBI is responsible to the attorney general, and it reports its findings to U.S. Attorneys across the country. The FBI's intelligence activities are overseen by the Director of National Intelligence.

Who does the justice Department report to?

The Attorney General of the United States
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.

Who is the boss of the US attorney general?

Merrick Garland
United States Attorney General
Incumbent Merrick Garland since March 11, 2021
United States Department of Justice
StyleMr. Attorney General (informal) The Honorable (formal)
Member ofCabinet National Security Council
13 more rows

Are US attorneys confirmed by the Senate?

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. A U.S. attorney continues in office, beyond the appointed term, until a successor is appointed and qualified.

Who is higher than the FBI?

Comparison chart
CIA
Stands forCentral Intelligence Agency
IntroductionThe Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) is a civilian foreign intelligence service of the United States federal government, tasked with gathering, processing, and analyzing national security information from around the world.
10 more rows

Who does the director of the FBI report to?

the Attorney General of the United States
The FBI Director is appointed for a single 10-year term by the President of the United States and confirmed by the Senate. The FBI is an agency within the Department of Justice (DOJ), and thus the Director reports to the Attorney General of the United States.

What is the highest rank in the FBI?

the director
Tip. The highest rank in the FBI is the director. The office is filled by presidential appointment, provided the Senate votes to confirm. The FBI director answers to the U.S. attorney general, the director of national intelligence and various congressional committees.

What does the attorney general do?

The Attorney General is the adviser to the Government on matters of law and legal opinion and attends Government meetings. They also represent the public in all legal proceedings that involve the enforcement of the law or the protection of public rights.Sep 24, 2021

Is the CIA part of the Department of Justice?

"The Work of a Nation. The Center of Intelligence." Unlike the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), which is a domestic security service, the CIA has no law enforcement function and is officially mainly focused on overseas intelligence gathering, with only limited domestic intelligence collection.

Is the FBI part of the DOJ?

As part of the Department of Justice (DOJ), the FBI reports the results of its investigations to the attorney general of the United States and his assistants in Washington, D.C., and to the United States attorneys' offices in the country's federal judicial districts.

What is the role of the Attorney General?

In June 1870 Congress enacted a law entitled “An Act to Establish the Department of Justice.” This Act established the Attorney General as head of the Department of Justice and gave the Attorney General direction and control of U.S. Attorneys and all other counsel employed on behalf of the United States. The Act also vested in the Attorney General supervisory power over the accounts of U.S. Attorneys and U.S. Marshals.

Who created the Office of the Deputy Attorney General?

Office of the Deputy Attorney General. On May 24, 1950, Attorney General J. Howard McGrath created the Office of the Deputy Attorney General (ODAG). The Deputy Attorney, appointed by the President with the advice and consent of the Senate, is the Department's second-ranking official and functions as a Chief Operating Officer;

When was the Office of the Associate Attorney General created?

The Office of the Associate Attorney General (OASG) was created by Attorney General Order No. 699-77 on March 10, 1977.

Who provides advice and opinions on legal matters?

Furnish advice and opinions, formal and informal, on legal matters to the President and the Cabinet and to the heads of the executive departments and agencies of the government, as provided by law.

Who does the Attorney General represent?

The 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 departments of the Government when so requested. In matters of exceptional gravity or importance the Attorney General appears in person before the Supreme Court.

What is the role of the Attorney General?

The Attorney General represents the United States in legal matters generally and gives advice and opinions to the President and to the heads ...

When did the Department of Justice start?

The Department of Justice traces its beginning to the First Congress meeting in New York in 1789, at which time the Congress devoted itself to creating the infrastructure for operating the Federal Government.

What is an assistant U.S. attorney?

Attorneys working at the direction of the United States Attorney prosecute criminal cases brought by the United States against individuals and organizations who violate criminal laws enacted by the United States Congress.

Who is the attorney for the Western District of Texas?

The Western District of Texas is one of four federal judicial districts in Texas, and one of the largest in the country. Ashley C. Hoff is the United States Attorney for the Western District of Texas and is the chief federal law enforcement officer of the United States within this district.

What is the Office of the Attorney General?

The mission of the Office of the Attorney General is to supervise and direct the administration and operation of the Department of Justice, including the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Drug Enforcement Administration, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Bureau of Prisons, Office of Justice Programs, and the U.S. Attorney s and U.S. Marshals Service , which are all within the Department of Justice.

Who has jurisdiction to review the programs and personnel of the Federal Bureau of Investigation?

The OIG has jurisdiction to review the programs and personnel of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Federal Bureau of Prisons, the U.S. Marshals Service, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the United States Attorneys, and all other organizations in the Department.

What is the largest law office in the world?

The Department of Justice is the world's largest law office, employing more than 9,200 attorneys. OARM exercises delegated authority to take final action in matters pertaining to the employment, separation and general administration of Department attorneys and law students in grades GS-15 (or equivalent) and below: it recruits, appoints, and determines their suitability for employment. OARM is also the Department's adjudicative office in FBI Whistleblower cases.

What is the role of the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention?

The Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) provides national leadership, coordination, and resources to prevent and respond to juvenile delinquency and victimization. OJJDP supports states and communities in their efforts to develop and implement effective and coordinated prevention and intervention programs and to improve the juvenile justice system so that it protects public safety, holds offenders accountable, and provides treatment and rehabilitative services tailored to the needs of juveniles and their families.

What is the Office of Tribal Justice?

The Office of Tribal Justice is the primary point of contact for the Department of Justice with federally recognized Native American tribes, and advises the Department on legal and policy matters pertaining to Native Americans.

When did the Justice Department launch the new initiative?

In June 2009, the Justice Department announced the launch of a major new initiative to increase engagement, coordination and action on public safety in tribal communities.

When was the Office of the Attorney General created?

History and statutory authority. The Office of the United States Attorney was created by the Judiciary Act of 1789 , along with the office of Attorney General and the United States Marshals Service. The same act also specified the structure of the Supreme Court of the United States and established inferior courts making up ...

What does a federal attorney do?

As chief federal law enforcement officers, U.S. Attorneys have authority over all federal law enforcement personnel within their districts and may direct them to engage, cease or assist in investigations. In practice, this has involved command of Federal Bureau of Investigation assets but also includes other agencies under the Department of Justice, such as the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms and Drug Enforcement Administration. Additionally, U.S. Attorneys cooperate with other non-DOJ law enforcement agencies – such as the United States Secret Service and Immigration and Customs Enforcement – to prosecute cases relevant to their jurisdictional areas.

How long can an interim attorney be appointed?

This, in effect, extinguished the 120-day limit on interim U.S. Attorneys, and their appointment had an indefinite term. If the president failed to put forward any nominee to the Senate, then the Senate confirmation process was avoided, as the Attorney General-appointed interim U.S. Attorney could continue in office without limit or further action. Related to the dismissal of U.S. attorneys controversy, in March 2007 the Senate and the House voted to overturn the amendments of the USA PATRIOT Act to the interim appointment statute. The bill was signed by President George W. Bush, and became law in June 2007.

How long did the district courts have to appoint interim attorneys?

Thus, for almost 100 years, the district courts were in charge of appointing interim U.S. attorneys, and they did so with virtually no problems. This structure was left undisturbed until 1986 when the statute was changed during the Reagan administration. In a bill that was introduced by Senator Strom Thurmond, the statute was changed to give the appointment authority to the Attorney General, but even then it was restricted and the Attorney General had a 120-day time limit. After that time, if a nominee was not confirmed, the district courts would appoint an interim U.S. attorney. The adoption of this language was part of a larger package that was billed as technical amendments to criminal law, and thus there was no recorded debate in either the House or the Senate and both Chambers passed the bill by voice vote.

When did the Department of Justice become independent?

Attorneys were independent of the Attorney General, and did not come under the AG's supervision and authority until 1870, with the creation of the Department of Justice.

Who is responsible for presenting the case against an individual suspected of breaking the law?

The prosecution is the legal party responsible for presenting the case against an individual suspected of breaking the law, initiating and directing further criminal investigations, guiding and recommending the sentencing of offenders, and are the only attorneys allowed to participate in grand jury proceedings.

Can a citizen represent the United States in court?

However, they are not the only ones that may represent the United States in Court. In certain circumstances, using an action called a qui tam, any U.S. citizen, provided they are represented by an attorney, can represent the interests of the United States, and share in penalties assessed against guilty parties.

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 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 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.

Who determines if a case will be brought in federal court?

In these cases, the local U.S. Attorney's Office works closely with state and local law enforcement officials to determine whether a case will be brought in federal or state court.

What to do if your attorney is appointed by the court?

If your attorney was appointed by the court and is not effectively representing your interests, you should raise this issue with the court, which can address any considerations you have and may be able to appoint a different attorney. If you hired a private attorney to represent you and you are unsatisfied with their services, you should raise your concerns with your state bar association .

What to do if you are a victim of a federal crime?

If you are a victim of a federal crime and have been dealing with a law enforcement agency, you should contact that law enforcement agency to follow up on the status of the case. Longstanding Department practice prevents the Executive Office for United States Attorneys from confirming or denying the existence of particular matters or investigations, and cannot discuss the status of any matter that may be pending in a United States Attorney’s Office. Please be assured that all allegations of federal law violations are taken very seriously by all United States Attorneys’ offices.

What to do if you believe you have credible evidence of violations of state or local law?

If you believe you have credible evidence of violations of state or local law, you should contact your state or local law enforcement agencies, as appropriate.

What are the agencies that conduct criminal investigations?

Investigations are generally conducted by federal law enforcement agencies such as the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Drug Enforcement Administration, Customs and Border Protection, Internal Revenue Service, Postal Service, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and others. We also frequently take cases from state and local agencies. The U.S. Attorneys’ Offices work with those agencies to provide direction and legal counsel in federal criminal investigations.

What are some federal crimes?

Some federal crimes involve narcotics, bank robbery, fraudulent activity that affects interstate commerce, wire fraud, mail fraud or tax fraud, any crime in which the United States is defrauded, guns, environmental crimes, and civil rights violations. Some crimes may violate both state and federal laws, such as bank robbery. In these cases, the local U.S. Attorney's Office works closely with state and local law enforcement officials to determine whether a case will be brought in federal or state court.

How to contact the FBI?

You can find your local FBI office through their website at: http://www.fbi.gov/contact-us/field or by calling 202-324-3000.

image

Office of The Attorney General

Office of The Deputy Attorney General

  • On May 24, 1950, Attorney General J. Howard McGrath created the Office of the Deputy Attorney General (ODAG). The Deputy Attorney, appointed by the President with the advice and consent of the Senate, is the Department's second-ranking official and functions as a Chief Operating Officer; 25 components and 93 U.S. Attorneys report directly to the De...
See more on justice.gov

Office of The Associate Attorney General

  • The Office of the Associate Attorney General (OASG) was created by Attorney General Order No. 699-77 on March 10, 1977. As the third-ranking official at the Department of Justice, the ASG is a principal member of the Attorney General’s senior management team. The major functions of the ASG are to: 1. Advise and assist the Attorney General and Deputy Attorney General on the formul…
See more on justice.gov