以美國之名：聯邦法務總長之研究

Abstract

本文以美國聯邦政府的首席法律顧問和出庭律師——聯邦法務總長（Attorney General for the United States）為研究對象，對該職位的起源、法律規定、在權力部門中的定位、任免方式、工作性質、主要職能，以及後來機構化成為美國聯邦司法部的歷史背景和現行運作狀況做了詳盡的介紹。 本文首先探究了作為制度原型的英格蘭及威爾斯法務總長，考證這個職位的形成歷史，並介紹了它的副手以及它的服務對象。同時，也說明了這個制度是如何在英屬北美洲殖民地落地申根，成為日後美國設立聯邦法務總長的基礎。 隨後，本文從設立聯邦法務總長的《1789年司法機構法》出發，探討聯邦法務總長職位的各種性質，並將重點放在聯邦法務總長的兩項主要職能——為政府提供法律意見，以及為政府進行訴訟。在此過程當中，本文不僅會說明英國制度對美國制度所產生的影響，也會強調美國聯邦法務總長對總統履行其「確保法律被忠實地執行」之憲法義務而言是多麼重要。此外，本文也將對美國聯邦最高法院自行創設的違憲審查權進行批判，並主張行政部門應擁有不遜於司法機構的憲法解釋權。 再來，本文將介紹聯邦政府法律事務的整合史，也就是作為聯邦法務總長肢體的聯邦司法部的設立過程。其後，本文將介紹現在負責協助聯邦法務總長履行其主要職能的各個單位，包括聯邦司法部法制顧問處、聯邦地區法務長、聯邦司法部訴訟廳以及最重要的聯邦訟務總長和其辦公室。 最後，本文將以美國聯邦法務總長制度為鏡，檢視我國現行司法行政制度，並提供改革建議。

This article provides a comprehensive overview of the Attorney General for the United States, who serves as the chief legal advisor and litigator for the federal government. It examines the origins, legal framework, institutional positioning, appointment process, job nature, primary functions of the Attorney General, and the history and function of the institutional Attorney General——the Department of Justice of the United States. Regarding the origins of the Attorney General for the United States, this article traces the development of the position’s predecessor——English Attorney General, and explains how this system was transplanted to the North American Colonies and provided the model for the Attorney General for the United States. Regarding the position of the Attorney General for the United States, this article starting from the constitutional background of the United States, explains why the United States Congress did not provide detailed instructions on the appointment and the removal of the position in the Judiciary Act of 1789, which created the position and only gave him limited power and meager salary. After introducing the position, appointment process, and job nature of the Attorney General, the article focuses on the two primary functions of the position, which are providing legal advice to and conducting litigation for the government. In addition, this article criticizes the Supreme Court of the United States for creating its own power of judicial review and advocates that the Executive branch should have the authority to interpret the Constitution, not inferior to the Judicial branch. Furthermore, this article will introduce the history of the integration of federal legal affairs, namely the establishment process of the Department of Justice, which serves as the body of the Attorney General. Subsequently, this article will introduce various units responsible for assisting the Attorney General in performing their main functions, including the Office of Legal Counsel, United States Attorneys, Divisions of the Department of Justice, and most importantly, the Solicitor General of the United States and his office. Finally, this article will examine our country's current judicial administrative system by using the U.S. federal Attorney General system as a mirror and provide reform suggestions.