A Synopsis of the Attorney Generals

The United States Attorney General is the head of the Department of Justice. He or she is concerned with legal affairs, and is the chief law enforcement officer and chief lawyer of the government. The attorney general serves as a member of the President's cabinet. The attorney general is nominated by the President and confirmed by the Senate. The Attorney General can be removed by the President at any time, and is also subject to impeachment by the House of Representatives, with a trial in the Senate for treason, bribery, and other high crimes and misdemeanors. The Attorney General, the Secretary of State, the Secretary of the Treasury, and the Secretary of Defense are regarded as the four most important cabinet officials because of the importance of their departments. There have been 83 distinct Attorney Generals.