what is an attorney general

An Attorney General is a legal officer who represents the government in legal matters and provides legal counsel to government agencies and legislatures. The role of an Attorney General varies from one jurisdiction to another, but it typically includes issuing formal opinions to state agencies, acting as public advocates in areas such as child support enforcement, consumer protections, antitrust and utility regulation, proposing legislation, enforcing federal and state environmental laws, representing the state and state agencies before the state and federal courts, handling criminal appeals and serious statewide criminal prosecutions, instituting civil suits on behalf of the state, and representing the public’s interests in charitable trust and solicitations. The Attorney General is the chief legal officer of the states, commonwealths, District of Columbia, and territories of the United States. The Attorney General represents the United States in legal matters generally and gives advice and opinions to the President and to the heads of the executive departments of the Government when so requested.