Malcolm Rivera
The head of the US Department of Justice is the attorney general, who is the country's chief law enforcement officer. The attorney general is responsible for overseeing the Department of Justice, enforcing federal laws, and providing legal advice and opinions to the president and other executive departments. The attorney general also represents the federal government in legal matters and manages legal issues involving public safety, civil rights, and national security. The position of attorney general is a Level I role in the Executive Schedule, with a salary of $221,400 as of January 2021.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name of the head of the US Department of Justice | Attorney General |
| Current Attorney General | Pam Bondi |
| Salary | $221,400 as of January 2021 |
| Duties | Supervising all United States attorneys, prosecuting all federal crimes, representing the United States in court actions, advising the president on appointments to federal judicial positions, advising the president on legal matters, advising the Cabinet, advising the heads of executive departments and agencies, managing legal issues involving public safety, civil rights, and national security, communicating legal concerns to Congress, ensuring compliance with federal laws across states |
| Agencies overseen by the Department of Justice | Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Office of Justice Programs, U.S. Attorneys, United States Marshals Service (USMS), Foreign Claims Settlement Commission of the United States |
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What You'll Learn
- The Attorney General is the head of the US Department of Justice
- The Attorney General is the chief law enforcement officer of the federal government
- The Attorney General advises the President on legal matters
- The Attorney General supervises US attorneys
- The Attorney General is seventh in the presidential line of succession
The Attorney General is the head of the US Department of Justice
The Office of the Attorney General was established by the Judiciary Act of 1789, with the original duties of prosecuting and conducting Supreme Court cases involving the United States and providing legal advice to the president when requested. Over time, the office expanded, hiring private lawyers to handle the increasing number of federal cases. In 1870, Congress passed the "Act to Establish the Department of Justice," which significantly increased the responsibilities of the Attorney General.
The Attorney General's role has continued to evolve through congressional legislation, such as the PATRIOT Act in 2001, which expanded the Department of Justice's surveillance and investigative authority in matters of national security and terrorism. The Attorney General also advises the president on appointments to federal judicial positions and Department of Justice roles, including U.S. Attorneys and U.S. Marshals.
The Attorney General is a Level I position in the Executive Schedule, earning a salary of US$221,400 as of January 2021. The Attorney General is nominated by the president and, following a confirmation hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee, takes office if confirmed by a majority vote in the Senate. The Attorney General is also a statutory member of the Cabinet and the National Security Council and is seventh in the presidential line of succession.
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The Attorney General is the chief law enforcement officer of the federal government
The Attorney General is the head of the US Department of Justice and the chief law enforcement officer of the federal government. The Attorney General acts as the principal legal advisor to the President of the United States on all legal matters. The Attorney General is also a statutory member of the Cabinet of the United States and a member of the United States National Security Council.
The Attorney General's duties and responsibilities include overseeing the United States Department of Justice, enforcing federal laws, and providing both formal and informal legal advice and opinions to the President, the Cabinet, and the heads of executive departments and agencies. The Attorney General represents the federal government in legal matters and supervises the administration and operation of the Department of Justice, which includes the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Office of Justice Programs, U.S. Attorneys, and the United States Marshals Service.
The Attorney General has the power to prosecute all federal crimes and to represent the United States in all court actions, barring the use of private attorneys by the federal government. The Attorney General also has the responsibility to supervise all United States attorneys, formerly under the Department of the Interior. The Attorney General may represent the United States in the Supreme Court and other courts, although this is typically handled by the Solicitor General.
The Office of the Attorney General was formed under the Judiciary Act of 1789, in order to advise the President on law and to prosecute cases in the Supreme Court. The Department of Justice was established in 1870 to support the Attorney General in carrying out their duties. The Attorney General is supported by executive staff and several deputy attorneys general.
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The Attorney General advises the President on legal matters
The Attorney General is the head of the United States Department of Justice and the primary legal advisor to the President of the United States on all legal matters. The Attorney General's role as an advisor to the President was established by the Judiciary Act of 1789, which created the Office of the Attorney General. The Act outlines the Attorney General's duty to "give his advice and opinion upon questions of law when required by the president of the United States, or when requested by the heads of any of the departments".
The Attorney General's role as an advisor to the President is critical in ensuring the President's actions and decisions comply with the law. The Attorney General provides legal advice and opinions to the President and the President's Cabinet, which includes the National Security Council. This role extends beyond legal advice and opinions, as the Attorney General also advises the President on appointments to federal judicial positions and Department of Justice roles, such as U.S. Attorneys and U.S. Marshals.
The Attorney General's advisory function is not limited to the executive branch. The Attorney General also communicates legal concerns to Congress and ensures compliance with federal laws across states. This includes managing legal issues involving public safety, civil rights, and national security. For example, the Attorney General played a critical role in enforcing civil rights laws in the early years of the Department of Justice, vigorously prosecuting members of the Ku Klux Klan.
The Attorney General's role as an advisor is just one aspect of their broader responsibilities as the chief law enforcement officer of the federal government. The Attorney General oversees the enforcement of federal laws, supervises the administration and operation of the Department of Justice, and represents the federal government in legal matters, including appearing before the Supreme Court in matters of exceptional gravity or importance. The Attorney General also has statutory responsibilities, performing or supervising duties as required by statute or executive order.
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The Attorney General supervises US attorneys
The Attorney General is the head of the US Department of Justice and the country's chief law enforcement officer. The Attorney General acts as the principal legal advisor to the president on all legal matters. They advise the president on appointments to federal judicial positions and Department of Justice roles, including US attorneys and US marshals.
The Attorney General has the power to supervise and conduct government litigation in the Supreme Court of the United States. They may represent the United States in the Supreme Court and other courts, although this duty is typically handled by the solicitor general. The Attorney General also performs duties as required by statute or executive order, such as supervising federal penitentiaries and administering the Federal Witness Protection Program.
The Attorney General is supported by the Office of the Attorney General, which includes executive staff and several deputy attorneys general. The office was formed under the Judiciary Act of 1789 to advise the president on matters of law and prosecute cases in the Supreme Court. The Attorney General guides the world's largest law office and the central agency for the enforcement of federal laws.
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The Attorney General is seventh in the presidential line of succession
The Attorney General is the head of the US Department of Justice and the chief law enforcement officer of the federal government. The Attorney General is seventh in the presidential line of succession. This means that if the vice president, the speaker of the House of Representatives, and the president pro tempore of the Senate are unable to assume the powers and duties of the US presidency, the Attorney General will do so.
The Attorney General is responsible for supervising the administration and operation of the Department of Justice, which includes the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Office of Justice Programs, US Attorneys, and the United States Marshals Service. The Attorney General also enforces federal laws and provides legal advice and opinions to the president, the cabinet, and the heads of executive departments and agencies. In addition, the Attorney General advises the president on appointments to federal judicial positions and Department of Justice roles.
The Office of the Attorney General was established under the Judiciary Act of 1789. The Attorney General's original duties included prosecuting and conducting all suits in the Supreme Court in which the United States was concerned and providing legal advice and opinions to the president when requested. The Department of Justice was established in 1870 to support the Attorney General in carrying out their responsibilities.
The Attorney General is a statutory member of the Cabinet of the United States and a member of the United States National Security Council. The officeholder is nominated by the president and, following a confirmation hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee, takes office if confirmed by the majority of the full Senate.
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Frequently asked questions
The US Attorney General is the head of the US Department of Justice.
The Attorney General's duties include providing legal advice and opinions to the President, the Cabinet, and the heads of executive departments and agencies. They also enforce federal laws and oversee the Department of Justice.
As of January 2021, the Attorney General earns a salary of $221,400 as a Level I position in the Executive Schedule.
The officeholder of the US Attorney General is nominated by the President of the United States. Following a confirmation hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee, the nominee will take office if confirmed by the majority of the full United States Senate.
