United States Attorney General: Difference between revisions
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The Attorney General is appointed by the [[President of the United States]] and confirmed by the [[United States Senate]]. He or she is normally removed from office by the President but, in cases of wrongdoing, can be [[Impeachment in the United States|impeached]] by the [[United States House of Representatives|House of Representatives]] and brought to trial in the [[United States Senate|Senate]] where, if convicted (by a two-thirds majority), he or she may be removed from office or even barred from holding future offices. |
The Attorney General is appointed by the [[President of the United States]] and confirmed by the [[United States Senate]]. He or she is normally removed from office by the President but, in cases of wrongdoing, can be [[Impeachment in the United States|impeached]] by the [[United States House of Representatives|House of Representatives]] and brought to trial in the [[United States Senate|Senate]] where, if convicted (by a two-thirds majority), he or she may be removed from office or even barred from holding future offices. |
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The current Acting Attorney General is [[ |
The current Acting Attorney General is [[United States Assistant Attorney General|Assistant Attorney General]] [[Peter Keisler]]. <ref>http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2007/09/20070917-4.html</ref> On [[August 27]] [[2007]], former Attorney General [[Alberto Gonzales]] announced that his resignation was accepted by President Bush, and would be effective [[September 17]], [[2007]].<ref> |
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{{cite web|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2007/08/27/washington/27cnd-gonzales.html?_r=1&hp=&adxnnl=1&oref=slogin&adxnnlx=1188217220-bs39MOr+UJpRTDAYWymL9g| title=Gonzales Resigns as Attorney General|accessdate=2007-08-27}}</ref><ref name='TalkingPointsMemo-Gonzales Resignation Letter-2007-08-27'> |
{{cite web|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2007/08/27/washington/27cnd-gonzales.html?_r=1&hp=&adxnnl=1&oref=slogin&adxnnlx=1188217220-bs39MOr+UJpRTDAYWymL9g| title=Gonzales Resigns as Attorney General|accessdate=2007-08-27}}</ref><ref name='TalkingPointsMemo-Gonzales Resignation Letter-2007-08-27'> |
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{{cite news | first=Alberto R. | last= Gonzales | coauthors= | title= Letter of Resignation | date= August 26, 2007 | publisher= Talking Points Memo | url = http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/docs/gonzales-resigns/ | work = (via Talking Points Memo Document Collection)| pages = | accessdate = 2007-08-27 | language = }} |
{{cite news | first=Alberto R. | last= Gonzales | coauthors= | title= Letter of Resignation | date= August 26, 2007 | publisher= Talking Points Memo | url = http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/docs/gonzales-resigns/ | work = (via Talking Points Memo Document Collection)| pages = | accessdate = 2007-08-27 | language = }} |
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</ref> |
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On [[September 17]], [[2007]], President [[George W. Bush]] nominated retired judge [[Michael B. Mukasey]] to serve as the 81st [[Attorney General of the United States]].<ref>http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2007/09/20070917-4.html</ref> |
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The office of [[Attorney General]] was established by [[United States Congress|Congress]] in 1789. The original duties of this officer were "to prosecute and conduct all suits in the [[Supreme Court of the United States|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."<ref>[[Judiciary Act of 1789]], section 35.</ref> Only in 1870 was the Department of Justice established to support the Attorney General in the discharge of his responsibilities. |
The office of [[Attorney General]] was established by [[United States Congress|Congress]] in 1789. The original duties of this officer were "to prosecute and conduct all suits in the [[Supreme Court of the United States|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."<ref>[[Judiciary Act of 1789]], section 35.</ref> Only in 1870 was the Department of Justice established to support the Attorney General in the discharge of his responsibilities. |
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Revision as of 17:25, 17 September 2007
The United States Attorney General is the head of the United States Department of Justice (see 28 U.S.C. § 503) concerned with legal affairs and is the chief law enforcement officer of the United States government. The Attorney General is considered as the chief lawyer of the US 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 appointed by the President of the United States and confirmed by the United States Senate. He or she is normally removed from office by the President but, in cases of wrongdoing, can be impeached by the House of Representatives and brought to trial in the Senate where, if convicted (by a two-thirds majority), he or she may be removed from office or even barred from holding future offices.
The current Acting Attorney General is Assistant Attorney General Peter Keisler. [1] On August 27 2007, former Attorney General Alberto Gonzales announced that his resignation was accepted by President Bush, and would be effective September 17, 2007.[2][3] On September 17, 2007, President George W. Bush nominated retired judge Michael B. Mukasey to serve as the 81st Attorney General of the United States.[4]
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."[5] 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
See also
- United States Deputy Attorney General
- United States Solicitor General
- United States Associate Attorney General
- United States Assistant Attorney General
References
- ^ http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2007/09/20070917-4.html
- ^ "Gonzales Resigns as Attorney General". Retrieved 2007-08-27.
- ^
Gonzales, Alberto R. (August 26, 2007). "Letter of Resignation". (via Talking Points Memo Document Collection). Talking Points Memo. Retrieved 2007-08-27.
{{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|coauthors=(help) - ^ http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2007/09/20070917-4.html
- ^ Judiciary Act of 1789, section 35.
External links
- Biographies of the Attorneys General, via U.S. Dept. of Justice
