The Attorney Generals’ Role in a Polarized Society: How the Office has Evolved and What it Needs to Survive by Nicole Zeman

The Attorney Generals’ Role in a Polarized Society: How the Office has Evolved and What it Needs to Survive by Nicole Zeman

Politics and Government

The Judiciary Act of 1879 established the role of the United States Attorney General (AG). The AG is the head attorney for the country, appointed by the President. The role of the Attorney General is to be the head administrator for the DOJ, and represent the United States in legal matters, which may include representing the United States Government in the Supreme Court of the United States and all other courts. From the first Attorney General the office has lacked political neutrality and the waves of political polarization throughout American history have forced the AG to play the political game. Because the President appoints the AG, the Attorney General’s loyalty, which is supposed to be to the public, has steadily prevailed to be directed at the president. The office has progressed gaining the power of precedent and the Department of Justice, which has heightened the power of the AG within society. Attorneys General such as Edmund Randolph, William Wirt, Amos T Akerman, Homer Stille Cummings, John Ashcroft and Loretta Lynch among many other have highlighted the political problem within the position through party and presidential loyalty. To fix the AG’s involvement with party politics, the Supreme Court of the United States must be granted appointment power of the AG with review every four years. The Supreme Court appointment will result in a more stable justice system, a less politicized Attorney General, and loyalty to the people to be restored.

Nicole Zeman

Senior Showcase Oral presentation

Ripon College

April 18, 2017

The author reserves all rights.

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Major: Politics and Government, Business

Sussex, Wisconsin