United States Attorney General | |
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![]() Seal of the Department of Justice | |
![]() Flag of the United States attorney general | |
since March 11, 2021 | |
Department of Justice | |
Style | Mr. Attorney General (informal) The Honorable (formal) |
Member of | Cabinet National Security Council Homeland Security Council |
Reports to | President |
Seat | Robert F. Kennedy Department of Justice Building Washington, D.C. |
Appointer | President with Senate advice and consent |
Term length | No fixed term |
Constituting instrument | 28 U.S.C. § 503 |
Formation | September 26, 1789 |
First holder | Edmund Randolph |
Succession | Seventh[1] |
Deputy | Deputy Attorney General |
Salary | Executive Schedule, Level I[2] |
Website | www |
The United States attorney general (AG) is the head of the United States Department of Justice and is the chief law enforcement officer of the federal government of the United States. 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.
Under the Appointments Clause of the United States Constitution, the officeholder is nominated by the president of the United States, then appointed with the advice and consent of the United States Senate. The attorney general is supported by the Office of the Attorney General, which includes executive staff and several deputies.
Merrick Garland has been the United States attorney general since March 11, 2021.[3][4]