Attorney General of Michigan
| Michigan Attorney General | |
 | |
| General information | |
| Office Type: | Partisan |
| Office website: | Official Link |
| Term limits: | 2 terms |
| Structure | |
| Length of term: | 4 years |
| Authority: | Michigan Constitution, Article V, Section 3, the Executive Department |
| Selection Method: | Elected |
| Current Officeholder | |
 | |
| Name: | Bill Schuette |
| Officeholder Party: | Republican |
| Assumed office: | 2010 |
| Compensation: | $124,900 |
| Elections | |
| Next election: | November 4, 2014 |
| Last election: | November 2, 2010 |
| Other Michigan Executive Offices | |
| Governor • Lieutenant Governor • Secretary of State • Attorney General • Treasurer • Auditor • Superintendent of Public Instruction • Director of Agriculture and Rural Development • Insurance Commissioner • Natural Resources Director • Labor Director • Public Service Commission | |
Contents |
Current officeholder
The current officeholder is Bill Schuette. He was elected in 2010 and his term ends in 2014.
Authority
The state Constitution addresses the office of the Attorney General in Article V, the Executive Department.
Under Article V, Section 3:
|
The single executives heading principal departments shall include a secretary of state, a state treasurer and an attorney general... |
Elections
The attorney general is an elected position up for election each alternate even-numbered year. Per the Michigan constitution of 1963, it is a four year term of office, and as amended in 1993, there is a two term limit. Originally this was an appointed position until the 1950 State Constitution.
2010
| 2010 Race for Attorney General - General Election [1] | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote Percentage | |
| Republican Party |  Bill Schuette
|
52.3% | |
| Democratic Party | David Leyton | 43.5% | |
| Libertarian Party | Daniel W. Grow | 2.3% | |
| U.S. Taxpayers | Gerald Van Sickle | 1.9% | |
| Total Votes | 3,136,224 | ||
2006
| 2006 Race for Attorney General - General Election [2] | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candidates | Percentage | |||
 Mike Cox (R)
|
53.8% | |||
| Amos Williams (D) | 43.5% | |||
| Bill Hall (Libertarian) | 1.7% | |||
| Charles Conces (UST) | 1% | |||
| Total votes | 3,690,415 | |||
2002
- 2002 Race for Attorney General - Republican Primary
- Mike Cox ran unopposed
| 2002 Race for Attorney General - General Election [3] | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candidates | Percentage | |||
| Mike Cox (R)
|
48.9% | |||
| Gary Peters (D) | 48.7% | |||
| Jerry Kaufman (Green) | 1.6% | |||
| Gerald Van Sickle (UST) | 0.9% | |||
| Total votes | 3,068,012 | |||
Vacancies
Vacancy appointments are addressed under Article V, Section 21.
Whenever the attorney general's office is vacant the governor fills the position by appointment.
Duties
The main duties of the Attorney General are outlined in the Michigan Compiled Laws:[4]
- "Prosecute and defend all actions in the supreme court in which the state shall be interested"
- "Intervene in and appear for the people of this state in any other court or tribunal, in any cause or matter, civil or criminal, in which the people of this state may be a party or interested"
Campaign finance
The Attorney General of Michigan is responsible for handling all criminal prosecutions under the state's campaign finance laws. [5] The first step in filing a campaign finance complaint is to file with the Secretary of State's office. It is up the Secretary of State to resolve the complaint as the first step before proceeding to civil or criminal prosecution. [5] The Secretary of State is responsible for investigating all campaign finance complaints.
Compensation
- See also: Compensation of state executive officers
In 2012, the Michigan Attorney General was paid an estimated $124,900 according to the Council of State Governments.
Article V, Section 23 of the Michigan Constitution defines the method by which the attorney general's compensation is set:
|
The governor, lieutenant governor, secretary of state and attorney general shall each receive the compensation provided by law in full payment for all services performed and expenses incurred during his term of office. Such compensation shall not be changed during the term of office except as otherwise provided in this constitution. |
Contact Information
110 State Office Building
305 Lundington
Escanaba, MI 49829
Phone: 906-786-0169
Fax: 906-786-6445
E-mail: miag@michigan.gov
See also
External links
- Office of the Michigan Attorney General
- Chart of how the Office of the Michigan Attorney General is organized
References
- ↑ Michigan Department of State - 2010 General Election Results
- ↑ Department of State - 2006 General Election Results
- ↑ Department of State - 2002 General Election Results
- ↑ Michigan Compiled Laws, " 14.28 The Attorney General," accessed December 21, 2012
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Michigan Legislature "Michigan Campaign Finance Act of 1976"(Referenced Statute 169.215(10))
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