Short answers, pulled from the story.
Congress passed the Judiciary Act of 1789 which established the Office of the Attorney General. This law mandated that the attorney general give advice on questions of law when requested by the president or department heads.
The officeholder earns a salary prescribed for Level I positions in the Executive Schedule. That amount reached $250,600 as of January 2025.
Janet Reno became the first female attorney general in 1993. She took office during the presidency of Bill Clinton following her nomination by the president and confirmation by the Senate.
Supervision extends to major agencies including the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Drug Enforcement Administration. The attorney general serves as the chief law enforcement officer of the federal government today.
It is standard practice for the attorney general to tender resignation effective at noon on Inauguration Day. This date falls on January 20 when a new president begins their term.