United States Attorneys General

United States Attorneys General
Post	Attorney General
Body	the United States
Insigniasize	120
Insigniacaption	Official seal
Flagsize	120
Flagcaption	Official flag
Incumbent	Merrick Garland
Incumbentsince	March 11, 2021
Department	United States Department of Justice
Style	Mr. Attorney General (informal), The Honorable (formal)
Member of	Cabinet, National Security Council
Reports to	President of the United States
Seat	Robert F. Kennedy Department of Justice Building, Washington, D.C.
Nominator	President of the United States
Appointer	President of the United States, with Senate advice and consent
Termlength	No fixed term
Formation	September 26, 1789
First	Edmund Randolph
Succession	Seventh
Deputy	United States Deputy Attorney General
Salary	Executive Schedule, Level I

United States Attorneys General serve as the head of the United States Department of Justice and are the chief law enforcement officer of the federal government. Appointed by the President of the United States and confirmed by the United States Senate, the Attorney General leads a vast department responsible for enforcing federal law, providing legal advice to the executive branch, and representing the United States in legal matters. The position, established by the Judiciary Act of 1789, is a Cabinet-level role and is seventh in the United States presidential line of succession.

History and establishment

The office was created by the Judiciary Act of 1789, with the first Attorney General, Edmund Randolph, serving under President George Washington. Initially a part-time position with a modest salary, the early Attorneys General provided legal advice to the President and Congress but operated without a dedicated department or staff. The role evolved significantly after the American Civil War, culminating in the establishment of the United States Department of Justice by the Congress of the United States through the Department of Justice Act signed by President Ulysses S. Grant in 1870. This act transformed the office into the head of a major executive department, consolidating federal legal functions previously scattered across other agencies.

Appointment and tenure

Attorneys General are nominated by the President of the United States and must be confirmed by a majority vote in the United States Senate. The appointment process often involves hearings before the United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary. There is no fixed term of office; they serve at the pleasure of the President, typically resigning at the end of an administration. However, they can also be removed by the President or face impeachment by the United States House of Representatives and conviction by the United States Senate. Notable contentious confirmations include those of Edwin Meese and William Barr.

Duties and responsibilities

The Attorney General oversees the enforcement of all federal laws, provides legal opinions to the President and heads of executive departments, and represents the United States in legal matters before the Supreme Court of the United States. Key responsibilities include supervising federal prosecutions conducted by United States Attorneys, directing agencies like the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Drug Enforcement Administration, and advising on the constitutionality of proposed legislation. The office also plays a critical role in national security through its oversight of the National Security Division and coordination with the Central Intelligence Agency.

Notable Attorneys General

Several individuals have shaped the office through landmark actions or controversies. Robert F. Kennedy aggressively pursued organized crime and advanced the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Janet Reno, the first woman to hold the office, oversaw responses to events like the Waco siege and the Oklahoma City bombing. John Ashcroft was a central figure in crafting the USA PATRIOT Act following the September 11 attacks. Eric Holder, the first African American Attorney General, focused on civil rights and Wall Street accountability after the Financial crisis of 2007–2008. William P. Rogers served during the Vietnam War and the early Cold War.

Relationship with the Department of Justice

The Attorney General is the administrative head of the United States Department of Justice, which employs over 100,000 people including attorneys, investigators, and law enforcement officers. The office is supported by senior officials like the United States Deputy Attorney General and the United States Associate Attorney General. The Attorney General sets enforcement priorities, manages the department's budget, and issues guidelines to components such as the Civil Rights Division, the Antitrust Division, and the Bureau of Prisons. The relationship is foundational to the principle of rule of law in federal governance.

List of United States Attorneys General

A complete chronological list includes all individuals who have served, from Edmund Randolph to the current Attorney General, Merrick Garland. The list reflects the changing political landscape, with Attorneys General serving under presidents from George Washington to Joe Biden. It includes those who served in an acting capacity, such as Sally Yates, and notes periods of significant legal and historical events, from the Watergate scandal under Elliot Richardson to the September 11 attacks under John Ashcroft. The list is maintained by the United States Department of Justice and the Office of the Attorney General (United States).

Category:United States Attorneys General Category:United States Department of Justice