States, cities & tribes
state attorney general
A state's chief legal officer, elected in most states. Represents the state in court, issues legal opinions, and enforces consumer protection law.
In full
Because most are independently elected rather than appointed by the governor, state attorneys general can and do take positions against their own state's executive. They have become major players in national policy through multistate lawsuits challenging federal rules and through consumer and antitrust enforcement.
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A plain-language explanation for civic education, not legal advice. When in doubt, the official source named above controls.