United States Attorney General

Infobox US Cabinet
post = United States Attorney General
insignia = US-DeptOfJustice-Seal.svg
insigniasize = 140px
insigniacaption = Official Seal
department = Department of Justice


incumbent = Michael Mukasey
incumbentsince = November 9, 2007
first = Edmund Randolph
formation = September 26, 1789
succession = Seventh
website = [http://www.usdoj.gov/ www.usdoj.gov]

The United States Attorney General is the head of the United States Department of Justice (see usc|28|503) concerned with "legal affairs" and is the chief law enforcement officer of the United States government. The Attorney General is considered to be the chief lawyer of the U.S. government. The Attorney General serves as a member of the President's Cabinet, but is the only cabinet department head who is not given the title Secretary.

The Attorney General is nominated by the President of the United States and takes office after confirmation by the United States Senate. He or she serves at the pleasure of the President and can be removed by the President at any time; the Attorney General is also subject to impeachment by the House of Representatives and trial in the Senate for "treason, bribery, and other high crimes and misdemeanors."

On November 9, 2007, Michael B. Mukasey was confirmed to serve as the 81st Attorney General of the United States.

The office of Attorney General was established by Congress in 1789. The original duties of this officer were "to prosecute and conduct all suits in the Supreme Court in which the United States shall be concerned, and 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." [Judiciary Act of 1789, section 35.] Only in 1870 was the Department of Justice established to support the Attorney General in the discharge of his responsibilities.

The members of the Department of Justice represent the United States in legal matters generally and offer advice and opinions to the President and to the heads of the executive departments of the Government when so requested. The Attorney General appears in person to represent the Government before the Supreme Court in cases of exceptional importance. Under most circumstances the United States Solicitor General argues before the Supreme Court on the government's behalf. The Attorney General is seventh in the United States presidential line of succession.

List of Attorneys General

ee also

*United States Deputy Attorney General
*United States Solicitor General
*United States Associate Attorney General
*United States Assistant Attorney General
* subpoena duces tecum
* subpoena ad testificandum

References

External links

* [http://www.usdoj.gov/jmd/ls/agbiographies.htm Biographies of the Attorneys General] , via U.S. Dept. of Justice