why the attorney general is the most powerful cabinet position

Is the Secretary of Defense the most powerful cabinet member?

As a result, in the modern Presidency, the Secretary of Defense can be, by law and custom, seen as even a bit more powerful than the Secretary of State. Beyond that, the next most powerful modern cabinet member day-to-day is the Secretary of the Treasury.

What is the most important cabinet post in the US government?

The four Inner Cabinet posts are normally regarded as the most important: State, Defense, Treasury and Justice (headed by an Attorney General). Homeland SEcurity was developed after hte model was created, but it arguably Inner Cabinet, too.

What is the role of the Attorney General?

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 States .

Who are the top 10 attorneys general in US history?

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 5 Michael Mukasey, 2007 – 2009 6 Alberto Gonzales, 2005 – 2007 7 John Ashcroft, 2001 – 2005 8 Janet Reno, 1993 – 2001 9 William Barr, 1991 – 1993 10 Richard Thornburgh, 1988 – 1991 More items...

Who is the most powerful Cabinet member?

The President's Cabinet is composed of several Cabinet members, including the Vice President, who is the highest-ranking member of the Cabinet.

What is the most important presidential Cabinet position?

Andrew Rudalevige, a professor of government at Bowdoin College in Maine, explained that the four original Cabinet posts—Defense, State, Treasury and Attorney General—remain the most important and are sometimes referred to as the “inner Cabinet.” “They get the best seats at the Cabinet table, and the people who are ...

What is the most important role of the Cabinet?

Established in Article II, Section 2 of the Constitution, the Cabinet's role is to advise the President on any subject he may require relating to the duties of each member's respective office.

Is the US attorney general a Cabinet position?

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 least important cabinet position?

Here are the bottom five, in order of least sustainable cabinet-level agency: Education. Homeland Security. Veterans Affairs.

Who is the most important secretary?

United States Secretary of StateIncumbent Antony Blinken since January 26, 2021United States Department of StateStyleMr. Secretary (informal) The Honorable (formal) His Excellency (diplomatic)Member ofCabinet National Security Council12 more rows

What is the main purpose of the President's Cabinet?

The Cabinet's role is to advise the President on any subject he or she may require relating to the duties of each member's respective office.

Which Cabinet position is headed by the attorney general?

ATTORNEY GENERAL: This person is the President's main legal advisor in matters pertaining to the country. He/she sees that the laws are enforced and that the people receive justice. This person may appoint special investigation teams. He/she runs the Justice Department.

What is the executive office and what are its three most important agencies?

The Executive Office of the President (EOP) comprises four agencies that advise the president in key policy areas: the White House Office, the National Security Council, the Council of Economic Advisors, and the Office of Management and Budget.

What is the purpose of the US attorney general?

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.

What is the difference between Attorney General and Chief Justice?

In layman terms, Chief Justice is a Judge and Attorney General is a Lawyer, both have distinct roles to play. The Attorney General of India is the highest law officer of the country and he/she is the chief legal advisor to the GoI. He is responsible to assist the government in all its legal matters.

What does the US attorney general investigate?

AGs investigate and bring actions under their states' respective unfair, deceptive, and abusive practices laws (“UDAP laws”). UDAP laws tend to broadly prohibit “deceptive” or “unconscionable” acts against consumers.

What is the power of the Attorney General?

After that, the Attorney General is next most powerful, both in terms of final say and control of all federal prosecutorial discretion, but because that department still controls some of the most extensive enforcement agencies in the federal government , including the FBI, ATF, and the US Marshals Service. The DOJ also contains the Bureau of Prisons, and the Federal Parole Commission, etc. Lastly, unlike many of the other cabinet members, the Attorney General is also, by custom, supposed to be much more independent of the President, and largely above politics in their day-to-day decision-making. While they still serve at the pleasure of the President, and recent events may seem to belie this description, you may remember the backlash that has occurred every time a modern White House, no matter the political party in control, has even so much as appeared to have interfered in the business of DoJ.

Why is the Secretary of Defense so powerful?

The Secretary of Defense is actually necessary to authorize a nuclear strike, which I would consider pretty powerful. In addition, as the person responsible for the entire Department of Defense, he or she is able to control the largest military in the world. In conjunction, the Secretary of State helps set the United States' global policy, which I would consider extremely powerful. I would actually say that Secretary of State is more powerful than the Secretary of Defense, as we must defend ourselves based on our diplomatic stance set in the Secretary of State.

What does the Secretary of State do?

Technically, the Secretary of State often has the obligation to help negotiate treaties, etc., and to, by one means or another, make policy, often far away from the eyes of ears of the President. In the past, prior to the development of the modern presidency (say, around the time of Eisenhower and Kennedy), that made this cabinet position much more powerful than it is today, since the Secretary of State didn't have many rivals in the making of foreign policy back then, and communications with Washington, D.C. were often very limited. Today, that position is greatly diminished; most modern Presidents tend to set the tone and parameters of the foreign policy that they want for their administration, and there is virtually no place on earth that the Secretary can "hide" if the President wants to direct them about a particular negotiation, meeting, etc. Moreover, with the development of the 24-hour news cycle, and the rise of a professional national security staff that works directly for the President, and who often may have greater access to the President's ear about issues, the power of the Secretary of State to make foreign policy is greatly diminished.

What is the role of the Treasury Department in the economy?

It funds all the branches of the government, it funds the military, social services and many more which are necessary for the nation. It also controls all of the Trading and Commerce between other nations. All of the banks are under the Treasury Department, and all the banks are necessary for the people to survive.

What is the job of the Secretary of the Treasury?

The Secretary of the Treasury is concerned with the monetary and banking system of the country. Finance regulation and the economy are his responsibility.

Which is the biggest employer in the world?

Secretary of Defense. The United States of America Department of Defense is the biggest employer (2.86 million) in the world with a budget in excess of $725 Billion. We also have the equipment and training that kind of money can buy.

Is the Secretary of State important?

Historical, the Secretary of State has also had a lot of power, particularly in the realm of foreign policy. In times of relative global peace, this position is less important. In our current global situation, though I would say that this is probably the most important overall.

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.

What is the role of the Attorney General of Kenya?

In Kenya the Attorney General is the Principal Legal Adviser to the Government and ex officio Member of Parliament and Cabinet. His duties include the formulation of legal policy and ensuring proper administration of Kenya's legal system including professional legal education. Assisting the Attorney General in the performance of his duties as Principal Legal Adviser to the Government are:

What is the main legal advisor to the government?

In common law jurisdictions, main legal advisor to the government. In most common law jurisdictions, the attorney general or attorney-general (sometimes abbreviated AG) is the main legal advisor to the government. The plural is attorneys general. In some jurisdictions, attorneys general also have executive responsibility for law enforcement, ...

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 role of the Minister of Public Safety?

A separate cabinet position, the Minister of Public Safety ( Ministre de la Sécurité publique ), formerly the "Solicitor General", administers the law enforcement agencies (police, prisons, and security) of the federal government.

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".

Who is a power of attorney?

The term was originally used to refer to any person who holds a general power of attorney to represent a principal in all matters. In the common law tradition, anyone who represents the state , especially in criminal prosecutions , is such an attorney.

What is the name of the law firm that the Attorney General runs?

The US Attorney General is like the Chief Legal Officer of the US government. He runs the largest law firm in the country- the Department of Justice.

What powers does the Attorney General have?

To whit, the office has the power to exercise prosecutorial discretion. This entails the power to decide when to prosecute a defendant, when to cut a plea bargain, and sentence recommendations. This power is respected in American law to the same extent that judicial discretion is. It is the understanding that there are limited funds available for the prosecution of crimes and that prosecutors ought have the ability to decide, based on the facts, when i

What are the powers of the President of the United States?

The answer to this question could be debated for years. The Powers that the President of the United States is Phenomenal and far reaching. He controls the mightiest Military the world has ever seen. In a flick of finger, he can wipe out half the world if he and he alone decided to launch. He can direct a Thousand Gun ships with Gatling guns hanging down from the side of Apache Helicopters and destroy vast armies in minutes. He can unleash the power of a Thousand ICBM missals and destroy an entire battlefield of Tanks coming face to fac

What is the Justice Department responsible for?

The Justice Department is also responsible for reviewing the conduct of local law enforcement as directed by the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994.

What is the job of the Justice Department?

Supervise and direct the administration and operation of the many offices, boards, divisions, and bureaus that comprise the Justice Department.

Who follows the President in the succession act?

Per the Succession Act of 1947, as amended, the Attorney General follows the Vice-President, Speaker of the House, President pro tempore of the Senate, Secretary of State, Secretary of the Treasury, Secretary of Defense and comes before the Postmaster General in the Presidential Line of Succession.

Does the President have the authority to enforce laws?

No. The attorney general enforces the laws that she has authority over. She does this with investigations, direction of her staff, lawsuits and criminal prosecutions, etc. The President has a much greater amount of authority. He is the attorney general's boss. He chooses the attorney general. He can remove the attorney general. United States Attorney General

How many departments are in the presidential cabinet?

The U.S. presidential cabinet includes the Vice President and the heads of 15 different departments. While it may be argued that all departments are important, some wield much more power and influence than others. And that distinction depends on the Cabinet role, both at home or abroad.

Who is in charge of the Department of Justice?

The Attorney General. The Attorney General is in charge of the Department of Justice. She is the lead attorney in the country, responsible for prosecuting or defending important court cases on behalf of the people and also the Administration. She is also charged with enforcing the laws of the land.

What is the role of the Secretary of State?

The Secretary of State is an adviser to the president and head of the State Department. He or she portfolio is most concerned with foreign affairs and relations. The Secretary of State is our top diplomat.

What is the job of the Secretary of the Treasury?

Secretary of the Treasury. The Secretary of the Treasury is concerned with the monetary and banking system of the country. Finance regulation and the economy are among his responsibilities.

Who is the next in line for the presidency?

The Vice President. The Vice President of the United States is next in line for the Presidency. He stands in for the President at official functions, serves as the President of the Senate, has the honor of breaking ties in the Senate and is a close adviser to the President.

What is the role of the Secretary of Homeland Security?

The Secretary of Homeland Security is a relatively new Cabinet position, created in the aftermath of 9/11 and charged with the safety of U.S. borders. Twenty-two separate agencies merged to create the Department of Homeland Security.

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.

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 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:

What did Barr say about Mueller?

In a startling comment, Barr made late last year at the Attorney General’s Award for Distinguished Service in Policing, Barr stated that communities that fail to show the respect and support that law enforcement deserves, finally stating that these communities “might find themselves without the police protection they need.”

What does Barr believe about the executive branch?

Barr believes that congressional subpoenas and restrictions to the President’s removal power and legislative vetoes are encroachments on the power of the Executive branch . 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.

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.”

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 title do you refer to a former governor?

Technically, you don't refer to former governors or former cabinet secretaries as Governor or Secretary . Practically, however, these rules are frequently ignored. Most of the time, it depends on what the particular individual prefers or on what the speaker wishes to emphasize. If a newscaster is reporting a story involving Hillary Clinton and Libya, they're probably going to refer to her as Secretary Clinton to emphasize her foreign policy credentials or to indicate that she was Secretary of State during the events in question.

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Do all governors have the same positions?

Not all states are the same, and not all governor positions have equivalent roles and responsibilities within states. Not all Senators have equal positions because of seniority and committees, and the minority/majority standing of their respective parties. Obviously, you see wide variation between Secretaries of different departments in terms of federal workers under them, budgets, and spheres of influence, as well as formal recognition (such as presidential succession) in law. I don't think there's any way you can generally compare.

How many Cabinet positions are there?

There are currently seven positions that are not considered to be an official part of the president's Cabinet, but that have Cabinet-level rankings. They are: the White House chief of staff, the administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, the director of the Office of Management and Budget, the United States Trade representative, the United States mission to the United Nations, the chairman of the Council of Economic Advisers and the head of the Small Business Administration.

How many heads are in the Cabinet?

Today, the Cabinet is comprised of the vice president and 15 department heads, as well as a handful of Cabinet-level positions, such as White House chief of staff.

What was the role of the Vice President?

Cliff Owen/AP. Originally, the Vice President's main job was to preside over the Senate. But beginning in the 1970s, the Vice President's powers grew. Former Vice President Dick Cheney, for example, is considered to have had a large role in shaping George W. Bush's foreign policy. Former Indiana Gov. Mike Pence will take over ...

Who is the head of the DOI?

Known to some as the "department of everything else," the DOI "protects America's natural resources and heritage, honors our cultures and tribal communities and supplies the energy to power our future" and is currently headed by Secretary Sally Jewell. Trump has yet to name his pick, but the drilling advocates on his short list — which apparently includes former Vice-presidential candidate and Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin — have environmental activists concerned.

Who is the replacement for Jack Lew?

The secretary of the treasury is in charge of the administration's financial and economic policies. Trump named hedge fund manager and movie financier Steven Mnuchin as his replacement for current Treasury Secretary Jack Lew.

Who is the Secretary of Labor?

Thomas E. Perez is the current United States Secretary of Labor and is tasked with overseeing the welfare of U.S. workers. Trump has yet to officially announce his choice, but reports indicate that he is considering Obama-critic Andrew Puzder, the CEO of Carl's Jr. and Hardee's parent company CKE Restaurants.

Who is the pope's lawyer?

The position is currently held by U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch. Trump has picked Sen. Jeff Sessions to fill the role.