Is the US Attorney General the president's lawyer?
Asked by: Albina Zieme | Last update: July 19, 2025Score: 4.8/5 (74 votes)
In our democracy, the attorney general is the people's lawyer, not the president's lawyer, and has a sacred duty to enforce our nation's laws without prejudice and with an eye toward justice. She must be seen by the public — every member of the public, from every community — as fair and independent.
Does the Attorney General have power over the president?
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.
What is the president's lawyer called?
At least when White House counsel is advising the president on legal matters pertaining to the duties or prerogatives of the president, this office is also called Counsel to the President. David Warrington is the current White House counsel, serving since January 20, 2025.
Is the US Attorney General is a member of the president's Cabinet?
The attorney general serves as the principal advisor to the president of the United States on all legal matters. The attorney general is a statutory member of the Cabinet of the United States.
What is the difference between the attorney general and the U.S. attorney?
The president appoints U.S. attorneys, who mainly serve as administrators. Assistant U.S. attorneys handle the bulk of the trial work. The U.S. attorney general, who is the chief law enforcement officer in the United States and the head of the Department of Justice, has supervisory responsibility over U.S. attorneys.
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Who is more powerful, US Attorney or Attorney General?
United States Attorneys serve as the nation's principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General of the United States of America.
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.
Who is the highest lawyer in the federal government?
The Attorney General is the highest-ranking legal officer in the United States Department of Justice. The Attorney General is responsible for providing legal advice to the President and other executive branch officials, overseeing federal law enforcement agencies, and enforcing federal laws and regulations.
Does the U.S. Attorney General have to be a lawyer?
Does the U.S. Attorney General have to have a law degree and/or have passed a bar exam? Theoretically no. As long as you're appointed by the president and confirmed by the Senate, the job is yours. In practice, it's unlikely someone without a legal background would ever be appointed.
Who is the man sitting behind the president?
The Speaker and the Vice President sit on the dais, a raised platform directly behind where the President speaks.
Who is Donald Trump's lawyer?
Alina Habba. Alina Saad Habba (Arabic: ألينا حبة, born March 25, 1984) is an American lawyer, who is currently serving as a Counselor to the President in the second Trump administration.
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.
Is every president a lawyer?
By the numbers. Of the 45 different people who have been or are currently serving as president: 32 presidents had previous military experience; 9 were generals in the US Army. 27 presidents were previously lawyers.
Can the president fire the US Attorney General?
The new President may elect to keep or remove any U.S. attorney. They are traditionally replaced, collectively, only at the start of a new White House administration.
Can a president fire his vice president?
The Constitution of the United States gives Congress the authority to remove the vice president of the United States from office in two separate proceedings. The first one takes place in the House of Representatives, which impeaches the vice president by approving articles of impeachment through a simple majority vote.
Who is the current attorney general under Biden?
Attorney General (2021–2025)
Garland is sworn in as Attorney General in March 2021. President-elect Joe Biden selected Garland for the position of United States attorney general, with news of the selection coming on January 6, 2021. He was formally nominated by Biden on January 20, after Biden took office.
Who is higher, US attorney or attorney general?
A U.S. Attorney, or United States Attorney, is an official appointed by the Attorney General of the United States, to prosecute the laws on behalf of the United States (that is, “federal law”).
Who protects the U.S. Attorney General?
The Secret Service works closely with the United States Attorney's Office in both protective and investigative matters.
Is the attorney general the president's lawyer?
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.
How much does the US Attorney General make a year?
As of Jan 21, 2025, the average annual pay for an Attorney General in the United States is $103,584 a year. Just in case you need a simple salary calculator, that works out to be approximately $49.80 an hour. This is the equivalent of $1,992/week or $8,632/month.
What is the most powerful lawyer position?
Within the world of law firms, the highest position is a partner. It is arguably the pinnacle of their career for most lawyers. It is no small feat to achieve this and not many people can do it.
Who is higher than 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.
Who is over 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 controls the doj?
§§ 501 and 503), the Department of Justice (DOJ or the Department) is headed by the Attorney General of the United States. The Department was created to control federal law enforcement, and all criminal prosecutions and civil suits in which the United States has an interest.