The United States Attorney General is the head of the United States Department of Justice (see 28 U.S.C. § 503) concerned with legal affairs and is the chief law enforcement officer of the United States government. The Attorney General is considered as the chief lawyer of the US government. The Attorney General serves as a member of the President's Cabinet, but is the only cabinet department head who is not given the title Secretary.
The Attorney General is appointed by the President of the United States and confirmed by the United States Senate. He or she is normally removed from office by the President but, in cases of wrongdoing, can be impeached by the House of Representatives and brought to trial in the Senate where, if convicted (by a two-thirds majority), he or she may be removed from office or even barred from holding future offices.
The current Attorney General, Alberto Gonzales, was appointed in February 2005.
The office of Attorney General was established by Congress in 1789. The original duties of this officer were "to prosecute and conduct all suits in the Supreme Court in which the United States shall be concerned, and to give his advice and opinion upon questions of law when required by the President of the United States, or when requested by the heads of any of the departments." (Judiciary Act of 1789, section 35.) Only in 1870 was the Department of Justice established to support the Attorney General in the discharge of his responsibilities.
The members of the Department of Justice represent the United States in legal matters generally and offer advice and opinions to the President and to the heads of the executive departments of the Government when so requested. The Attorney General appears in person to represent the Government before the Supreme Court in cases of exceptional importance. Under most circumstances the United States Solicitor General argues before the Supreme Court on the government's behalf. The Attorney General is seventh in the United States presidential line of succession.

List of Attorneys General