How powerful is U.S. attorney general?
Asked by: Allie Wolff III | Last update: April 5, 2025Score: 4.2/5 (54 votes)
The Attorney General represents the United States in legal matters generally and gives advice and opinions to the President and to the heads of the executive departments of the Government when so requested. In matters of exceptional gravity or importance the Attorney General appears in person before the Supreme Court.
Who is above the U.S. Attorney General?
The department is headed by the U.S. attorney general, who reports directly to the president of the United States and is a member of the president's Cabinet.
Is U.S. Attorney General above the Supreme Court?
The Attorney General is not above the Supreme Court. Probably the best way to explain the hierarchies in our constitutional government is to review the structure of our government as represented in the first 3 articles of the Constitution itself.
Does the Attorney General have power over the FBI?
The FBI's mandate is established in Title 28 of the United States Code (U.S. Code), Section 533, which authorizes the Attorney General to "appoint officials to detect and prosecute crimes against the United States". Other federal statutes give the FBI the authority and responsibility to investigate specific crimes.
Who has higher authority than the FBI?
Within the U.S. Department of Justice, the FBI is responsible to the attorney general, and it reports its findings to U.S. Attorneys across the country. The FBI's intelligence activities are overseen by the Director of National Intelligence.
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How powerful is the US Attorney General?
The Attorney General represents the United States in legal matters generally and gives advice and opinions to the President and to the heads of the executive departments of the Government when so requested. In matters of exceptional gravity or importance the Attorney General appears in person before the Supreme Court.
Who has more power, the Attorney General or the Supreme Court?
The A.G. governs the enforcement of laws, the Chief Justice governs the court's processing of the law once a law is brought to the courts to be enforced. Neither Officer has more power over the other in that regard and only Congress can remove either and/or any Officer from its official capacity.
Do you need a law degree to be Attorney General?
By tradition, persons appointed to the position of Attorney-General have been lawyers. Only two former attorneys-general have not been lawyers, most recently Dr Michael Cullen who held the post in 2005, and again from 2006.
Who approves U.S. Attorney General?
The President shall appoint, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, an Attorney General of the United States. The Attorney General is the head of the Department of Justice.
Can the president remove the attorney general?
U.S. Attorneys are appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate. Like other presidential appointees, they can be removed by the President for any reason or for no reason, as long as it is not an illegal or improper reason.
How much does the US Attorney General make a year?
How much does a Attorney General make? The average Attorney General in the US makes $115,045. Attorney Generals make the most in San Jose, CA at $227,143 averaging total compensation 97% greater than US average.
Does the US Attorney General have to be approved by the Senate?
U.S. Attorneys are appointed by the President with the advice and consent of the Senate.
Who is above the CIA?
The Director of the Central Intelligence Agency (DCIA) serves as the head of the CIA and reports to the Director of National Intelligence.
Who is over the FBI?
The FBI is led by a Director, who is appointed by the U.S. president and confirmed by the Senate for a term not to exceed 10 years. The current Director is Brian Driscoll (acting).
Who investigates corrupt FBI agents?
The Public Integrity Section (PIN) oversees the investigation and prosecution of all federal crimes affecting government integrity, including bribery of public officials, election crimes, and other related offenses.
How long does the US Attorney General serve?
Under the state Constitution, the Attorney General is elected to a four-year term in the same statewide election as the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Controller, Secretary of State, Treasurer, Superintendent of Public Instruction, and Insurance Commissioner.
Has anyone become lawyer without degree?
Currently, Washington, Vermont, California and Virginia are the only four states that allow this process. Wyoming, New York and Maine allow lawyers to practice without earning a J.D. degree, although they must have at least some law school experience.
Who can overrule a judge?
Most federal court decisions, and some state court rulings, can be challenged. The U.S. courts of appeals usually have the last word. The nation's 94 federal judicial districts are organized into 12 regional circuits, each of which has a court of appeals.
Can the Supreme Court overrule the attorney general?
United States Supreme Court decisions directly affect attorney general offices' ability to enforce state laws and defend government officials' conduct. Attorney general offices therefore play an active role before the Supreme Court.
Can a Supreme Court justice be removed by the President?
Article III states that these judges “hold their office during good behavior,” which means they have a lifetime appointment, except under very limited circumstances. Article III judges can be removed from office only through impeachment by the House of Representatives and conviction by the Senate.
Who has power over the doj?
Since the 1870 Act that established the Department of Justice as an executive department of the government of the United States, the Attorney General has guided the world's largest law office and the central agency for enforcement of federal laws.
Is the President the boss of the Attorney General?
The attorney general is the lawyer appointed by the president and confirmed by the Senate to lead the Department of Justice, known as the DOJ.