QuestionsQuestions (EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 300)
It states that the Office of the Solicitor General (OSG) shall be an independent and autonomous office attached to the Department of Justice, and it shall continue to perform its functions as provided by law.
The Office is headed by the Solicitor General, the principal law officer and legal defender of the Government. He has authority and responsibility for the exercise of the OSG’s mandate and discharge of its duties, including supervision and control over the Office and its constituent units.
The Solicitor General is appointed by the President. EO 300 provides that the Solicitor General shall have the same qualifications for appointment, rank, prerogatives, and privileges as those of the Presiding Justice of the Court of Appeals.
It provides that the Solicitor General shall be assisted by a Legal Staff composed of fifteen (15) Assistant Solicitors General, plus such number of Solicitors and Trial Attorneys as may be necessary to operate the Office.
The OSG is divided into fifteen (15) divisions. The Solicitor General may assign or transfer the Assistant Solicitors General, Solicitors, and/or Trial Attorneys to any of the divisions.
The Assistant Solicitors General and the Solicitors are appointed by the President upon recommendation of the Solicitor General.
Trial Attorneys and administrative personnel in the OSG are appointed by the Solicitor General.
In cases of absence or temporary incapacity, the President designates an Acting Solicitor General.
The President designates an Acting Solicitor General who acts until a new Solicitor General is appointed, or until a new Solicitor General is appointed.
No. EO 300 provides that existing incumbents shall continue to remain in office without need of new appointment.
It states that funds necessary to carry out its provisions shall be taken from the appropriations of the Office of the Solicitor General in the current General Appropriations Act.
It repeals or modifies accordingly all laws, orders, issuances, rules and regulations, or parts thereof, that are inconsistent with EO 300.
It takes effect immediately.
The OSG is attached to the DOJ for organizational/legal linkage, but it is declared independent and autonomous in carrying out its functions as provided by law, with the Solicitor General having supervision and control over the office.
It empowers the Solicitor General to manage internal operations and oversee the constituent units, including authority to assign or transfer personnel among divisions, subject to the structure established by EO 300.