At the state level, most attorney generals are chosen by popular vote. The US state attorney general gives guidance to the lead representative and the state legislature. They aren’t straightforwardly liable for criminal indictments, in spite of the fact that they may offer help with exceptionally prominent cases. The attorney general of the state typically reports to the voters of the state.
At the Federal (US Government) level, the attorney general is delegated by the President of the United States and reports to the POTUS. The US attorney general is liable for practically all criminal cases and all respectful prosecution legitimately against the USA. Litigation by or against offices of the US Government is normally not the obligation of the US Attorney General.
Attorney General Responsibilities
The mission of the Office of the Attorney General is to administer and coordinate the organization and activity of the Department of Justice, including the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Drug Enforcement Administration, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Bureau of Prisons, Office of Justice Programs, and the U.S. Lawyers and U.S. Marshals Service, which are all inside the Department of Justice.
The basic duties of the Attorney General are to:
- Represent the United States in legitimate issues.
- Administer and direct the organization and activity of the workplaces, sheets, divisions, and authorities that contain the Department.
- Furnish advice and opinions, formal and casual, on legitimate issues to the President and the Cabinet and to the tops of the chief divisions and offices of the legislature, as given by law.
- Make proposals to the President concerning arrangements to government legal positions and to positions inside the Department, including U.S. Lawyers and U.S. Marshals.
- Speak to or oversee the portrayal of the United States Government in the Supreme Court of the United States and every other court, unfamiliar and homegrown, in which the United States is a gathering or has an enthusiasm that might be considered fitting.
- Perform or oversee the exhibition of different obligations needed by statute or Executive Order.
Attorney General Salary US
The salary rate for an attorney general is the highest in New York and the lowest in North Carolina. Here is another state-by-state breakdown of the salary for an attorney general in the United States.
| State | Hourly Wage | Annual Salary |
| New York – Attorney General Salary | $33.10 | $68,845 |
| Massachusetts – Attorney General Salary | $32.79 | $68,194 |
| Washington – Attorney General Salary | $32.56 | $67,718 |
| New Hampshire – Attorney General Salary | $31.91 | $66,369 |
| Hawaii – Attorney General Salary | $31.49 | $65,496 |
| Maryland – Attorney General Salary | $30.38 | $63,200 |
| Connecticut – Attorney General Salary | $30.38 | $63,180 |
| Rhode Island – Attorney General Salary | $30.13 | $62,666 |
| Alaska – Attorney General Salary | $30.09 | $62,585 |
| Vermont – Attorney General Salary | $29.96 | $62,325 |
| Nebraska – Attorney General Salary | $29.93 | $62,246 |
| Nevada – Attorney General Salary | $29.85 | $62,094 |
| North Dakota – Attorney General Salary | $29.74 | $61,859 |
| Wyoming – Attorney General Salary | $29.71 | $61,805 |
| California – Attorney General Salary | $29.67 | $61,705 |
| Virginia – Attorney General Salary | $29.53 | $61,431 |
| Kentucky – Attorney General Salary | $28.94 | $60,194 |
| South Dakota – Attorney General Salary | $28.87 | $60,052 |
| New Jersey – Attorney General Salary | $28.81 | $59,923 |
| West Virginia – Attorney General Salary | $28.77 | $59,849 |
| Pennsylvania – Attorney General Salary | $28.63 | $59,560 |
| South Carolina – Attorney General Salary | $28.49 | $59,252 |
| Minnesota – Attorney General Salary | $28.46 | $59,197 |
| Oregon – Attorney General Salary | $28.39 | $59,054 |
| Delaware – Attorney General Salary | $28.39 | $59,046 |
| Tennessee – Attorney General Salary | $28.37 | $59,004 |
| Colorado – Attorney General Salary | $28.35 | $58,967 |
| Montana – Attorney General Salary | $28.33 | $58,924 |
| Ohio – Attorney General Salary | $28.16 | $58,579 |
| Wisconsin – Attorney General Salary | $28.10 | $58,439 |
| Arizona – Attorney General Salary | $28.04 | $58,318 |
| Kansas – Attorney General Salary | $27.92 | $58,066 |
| Utah – Attorney General Salary | $27.90 | $58,041 |
| Indiana – Attorney General Salary | $27.86 | $57,944 |
| Oklahoma – Attorney General Salary | $27.81 | $57,852 |
| Idaho – Attorney General Salary | $27.74 | $57,689 |
| Maine – Attorney General Salary | $27.71 | $57,645 |
| Louisiana – Attorney General Salary | $27.60 | $57,411 |
| Iowa – Attorney General Salary | $27.32 | $56,820 |
| Georgia – Attorney General Salary | $27.05 | $56,259 |
| Texas – Attorney General Salary | $26.74 | $55,613 |
| New Mexico – Attorney General Salary | $26.68 | $55,492 |
| Michigan – Attorney General Salary | $26.61 | $55,352 |
| Arkansas – Attorney General Salary | $26.59 | $55,311 |
| Illinois – Attorney General Salary | $26.45 | $55,010 |
| Alabama – Attorney General Salary | $26.41 | $54,943 |
| Mississippi – Attorney General Salary | $26.15 | $54,386 |
| Missouri – Attorney General Salary | $26.09 | $54,259 |
| Florida – Attorney General Salary | $25.49 | $53,025 |
| North Carolina – Attorney General Salary | $24.27 | $50,491 |
Note: Sample rates have been extracted online, courtesy of ZipRecruiter.
How to become the Attorney General?
Under the Appointments Clause of the United States Constitution, the officeholder is nominated through the power of appointment by the president of the United States, then appointed with the advice and consent of the United States Senate.
Attorney General Qualifications
Every state has a different set of qualifications for an attorney general. Here is the basic checklist.
| State
(citation) |
Minimum Age | U.S. Citizenship (years, if applicable) | State Resident
(years, if applicable) |
Qualified voter
(years, if applicable) |
Bar Admission Requirement |
| Alabama | 25 | Yes (7) | Yes (5) | Yes | N/A |
| Arizona
|
25 | Yes (10) | Yes (5) | Yes | Must be a practicing attorney before the state Supreme Court for at least five years immediately preceding the date of taking office |
| California
|
18 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Must be admitted to practice before the state Supreme Court for at least five years immediately preceding election or appointment to the office |
| Colorado
|
25 | Yes | Yes (2) | Yes | Must be a licensed attorney of the state Supreme Court in good standing |
| Georgia
|
25 | Yes (10) | Yes (4) | Yes | Must be an active-status member of the Georgia State Bar for seven years |
| Illinois
|
25 | Yes | Yes (3) | Yes | Must be a member of the state bar |
| Kentucky
|
30 | Yes | Yes (2) | N/A | Must be a practicing lawyer for at least eight years before election |
| Maine
|
N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | Must be a member in good standing of the state bar (i.e., admitted to the practice of law in Maine, registered with the Board of Overseers of the Bar as an active practitioner, and not disbarred or suspended from practice) |
| Maryland
|
18 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Must have resided and practiced law in the state for at least 10 years |
| Massachusetts
|
18 | N/A | Yes (5) | Yes | Must be a member of the state bar |
| Montana
|
25 | Yes | Yes (2) | N/A | Must be an attorney in good standing to practice law in the state and engaged in active practice for at least five years before election |
| New Hampshire
|
N/A | Yes | Yes | N/A | Must have been admitted to the practice of law in the state and shall be qualified by reason of education and experience |
| New Jersey
|
18 | N/A | Yes | N/A | N/A |
| New York
|
30 | Yes | Yes (5) | N/A | N/A |
| Oklahoma
|
31 | Yes | Yes | Yes (10) | N/A |
| Rhode Island
|
18 | N/A | N/A | Yes | N/A |
| Utah
|
25 | Yes | Yes (5) | Yes | At the time of election, must be admitted to practice before the state Supreme Court and in good standing at the bar |
| Vermont
|
18 | Yes | Yes | Implied | N/A |
| Virginia
|
30 | Yes | Yes (1) | Yes | Must have been admitted to the state bar at least five years prior to election (same as judge of court) |
| Wisconsin
|
N/A | Yes | Yes | N/A | N/A |
Note: Sample figures have been extracted online, courtesy of OLR Research Project.
Conclusion
The attorney general represents the country in legitimate issues and concerns and is extremely important to the government and the judicial branch. He is appointed by the President himself and serves a term under them. There are certain educational and professional requirements that are a must to become an attorney general of the United States.
