By delegation from the Attorney General, the Assistant Attorney General in charge of the
Office of Legal Counsel provides authoritative legal advice to the President and all the
Executive Branch agencies. The Office drafts legal opinions of the Attorney General and
also provides its own written opinions and oral advice in response to requests from the
Counsel to the President, the various agencies of the Executive Branch, & offices within
the Department. Such requests typically deal with legal issues of particular complexity
and importance or about which two or more agencies are in disagreement. The Office
also is responsible for providing legal advice to the Executive Branch on all constitutional
questions and reviewing pending legislation for constitutionality.
All executive orders and proclamations proposed to be issued by the President are
reviewed by the Office of Legal Counsel for form and legality, as are various other matters
that require the President's formal approval.
In addition to serving as, in effect, outside counsel for the other agencies of the Executive
Branch, the Office of Legal Counsel also functions as general counsel for the Department
itself. It reviews all proposed orders of the Attorney General and all regulations requiring
the Attorney General's approval. It also performs a variety of special assignments referred
by the Attorney General or the Deputy Attorney General.
The Office of Legal Counsel is not authorized to give legal advice to private persons.
