ATTORNEY-GENERAL
\ɐtˈɜːnid͡ʒˈɛnəɹə͡l], \ɐtˈɜːnidʒˈɛnəɹəl], \ɐ_t_ˈɜː_n_i_dʒ_ˈɛ_n_ə_ɹ_əl]\
Definitions of ATTORNEY-GENERAL
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Colonies and States had their Attorneys-General before 1789. The Judiciary Act of that year, organizing the Federal judiciary under the new Constitution, provided for an Attorney-General of the United States, to act as government counsel, with a salary of $1500. At first he had little to do, and could practice for himself; but he was always a member of the Cabinet. In 1858 he was provided with an assistant. In 1861 he was given charge of U. S. district attorneys and marshals. In 1870 the office was organized as the Department of Justice. (For a list of the Attorneys-General see Cabinets.)
By John Franklin Jameson
Word of the day
Snake's-head
- Guinea-hen flower; -- so called in England because its spotted petals resemble the scales of a snake's head.