We are independent & ad-supported. We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links.
WiseGEEK

Advertiser Disclosure

Our website is an independent, advertising-supported platform. We provide our content free of charge to our readers, and to keep it that way, we rely on revenue generated through advertisements and affiliate partnerships. This means that when you click on certain links on our site and make a purchase, we may earn a commission. Learn more.

How We Make Money

We sustain our operations through affiliate commissions and advertising. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission from the merchant at no additional cost to you. We also display advertisements on our website, which help generate revenue to support our work and keep our content free for readers. Our editorial team operates independently from our advertising and affiliate partnerships to ensure that our content remains unbiased and focused on providing you with the best information and recommendations based on thorough research and honest evaluations. To remain transparent, we’ve provided a list of our current affiliate partners here.
Finance

What is the US Attorney General?

Tricia Christensen
By
Updated May 17, 2024
Our promise to you
WiseGEEK is dedicated to creating trustworthy, high-quality content that always prioritizes transparency, integrity, and inclusivity above all else. Our ensure that our content creation and review process includes rigorous fact-checking, evidence-based, and continual updates to ensure accuracy and reliability.

Our Promise to you

Founded in 2002, our company has been a trusted resource for readers seeking informative and engaging content. Our dedication to quality remains unwavering—and will never change. We follow a strict editorial policy, ensuring that our content is authored by highly qualified professionals and edited by subject matter experts. This guarantees that everything we publish is objective, accurate, and trustworthy.

Over the years, we've refined our approach to cover a wide range of topics, providing readers with reliable and practical advice to enhance their knowledge and skills. That's why millions of readers turn to us each year. Join us in celebrating the joy of learning, guided by standards you can trust.

Editorial Standards

At WiseGEEK, we are committed to creating content that you can trust. Our editorial process is designed to ensure that every piece of content we publish is accurate, reliable, and informative.

Our team of experienced writers and editors follows a strict set of guidelines to ensure the highest quality content. We conduct thorough research, fact-check all information, and rely on credible sources to back up our claims. Our content is reviewed by subject matter experts to ensure accuracy and clarity.

We believe in transparency and maintain editorial independence from our advertisers. Our team does not receive direct compensation from advertisers, allowing us to create unbiased content that prioritizes your interests.

The US Attorney General is the chief counsel for the United States. He or she is appointed by the President of the US and is part of the Presidential Cabinet. As well as being chief counsel for the government, the US Attorney General also manages and leads the US Department of Justice.

The Attorney General must advise the executive branch of the government regarding legal matters as well as administering the Department of Justice. He or she will also represent the government in legal matters brought to the Supreme Court. If the matter is not considered hugely important, the Attorney General may direct the US Solicitor General to argue legal matters before the court.

Members of the cabinet are not barred from choosing private attorneys to offer them advice. In fact any of the branches of the government or a single department may solicit the advice of a private attorney. However, this attorney cannot argue for them in front of the Supreme Court. That remains the position of either the Attorney General or the Solicitor General.

The US Congress created the position of US Attorney General in 1789. The first Attorney General, Edmund Randolph, served President George Washington from 1789-1784. Initially the position was only to represent the government in the Supreme Court and to advise the President and his cabinet members. Administering the Department of Justice was not added to the role of the Attorney General until 1870. The Department of Justice was not created until this time.

Since the president appoints the Attorney General, usually his or her position ends when the administration changes to a different president. Thus most Attorney Generals will serve a term no longer than eight years.

This was less true for the Attorney General in early the early years after the creation of the US government. William Wirt served as Attorney General for both James Monroe and John Quincy Adams in a term that lasted 12 years.

The first woman to serve as Attorney General, was Janet Reno, appointed by President Bill Clinton. She served the Clinton administration from beginning to end. The first Hispanic Attorney General to be appointed was Alberto Gonzales by President George W. Bush, replacing John Ashcroft in 2005.

WiseGEEK is dedicated to providing accurate and trustworthy information. We carefully select reputable sources and employ a rigorous fact-checking process to maintain the highest standards. To learn more about our commitment to accuracy, read our editorial process.
Link to Sources
Tricia Christensen
By Tricia Christensen , Writer
With a Literature degree from Sonoma State University and years of experience as a WiseGEEK contributor, Tricia Christensen is based in Northern California and brings a wealth of knowledge and passion to her writing. Her wide-ranging interests include reading, writing, medicine, art, film, history, politics, ethics, and religion, all of which she incorporates into her informative articles. Tricia is currently working on her first novel.
See our Editorial Process Share Feedback

Related Articles

Discussion Comments

By anon57798 — On Dec 27, 2009

I was wondering what the duties of the attorney general were.

Tricia Christensen

Tricia Christensen

Writer

With a Literature degree from Sonoma State University and years of experience as a WiseGEEK contributor, Tricia...
Read more
WiseGEEK, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.

WiseGEEK, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.