polling who knows what an attorney general does

What is the role of the Attorney General?

While varying from one jurisdiction to the next due to statutory and constitutional mandates, the role of attorney general typically includes: Acting as public advocates in areas such as child support enforcement, consumer protections, antitrust and utility regulation. Representing the state and state agencies before the state and federal courts.

Do Democrats or Republicans hold a majority of attorney general offices?

Ballotpedia: The Encyclopedia of American Politics. In 1977, the Democratic Party held a total of 27 elected attorney general offices to the Republican Party's 16. The Democratic lead in attorney general offices would be maintained through the 1990s, as opposed to the other three top executive offices, which became majority-Republican following the 1994 midterm elections.

Does the Attorney General have the power to initiate prosecution?

The attorney general is an executive office in all 50 states that serves as the chief legal advisor and chief law enforcement officer for the state government and is empowered to prosecute violations of state law, represent the state in legal disputes and issue legal advice to state agencies and the legislature. In most states, the attorney general has a substantial influence …

Who is leading the race for Texas’ Attorney General?

Attorneys general are the top legal officers of their state or territory. They advise and represent their legislature and state agencies and act as the “People’s Lawyer” for the citizens. Most are elected, though a few are appointed by the governor. Select your state to connect to your state attorney general's website.

What is the role of an attorney general?

The attorney general is responsible for enforcing state law and advising the state government on legal matters. In many states, attorneys general play a large role in the law enforcement process. Seventeen states impose some form of term limits on attorneys general.

How many states have an attorney general?

All 50 states have an attorney general who serves as the state's chief legal officer. The attorney general is responsible for enforcing state law and advising the state government on legal matters. In many states, attorneys general play a large role in the law enforcement process. Seventeen states impose some form of term limits on attorneys ...

What is the role of the Attorney General?

The attorney general is responsible for enforcing state law and advising the state government on legal matters. In many states, attorneys general play a large role in the law enforcement process.

How many states have an attorney general?

Eight incumbents won re-election, one incumbent did not run for re-election, and one incumbent was defeated in a party convention. All 50 states have an attorney general who serves as the state's chief legal officer.

Is Indiana a Republican state?

At the time of the election, Indiana was one of 19 states with a Republican triplex, meaning Republicans controlled the positions of governor, secretary of state, and attorney general . Before 2020, the last time Indiana elected a Democratic attorney general was in 1996.

Who won the Utah primary in 2020?

Incumbent Sean Reyes defeated David Leavitt in the Republican Party primary for Utah attorney general on June 30, 2020. Reyes received 54% of the vote to Leavitt's 46%. Reyes and Leavitt advanced from the April 25 state Republican Party convention, where Reyes received 57.5% of the vote to Leavitt's 42.5%.

How many states have triplex elections?

Thirteen states held elections for one or more triplex offices on November 3, 2020. A state government triplex occurs when the governor, attorney general, and secretary of state in a given state are all members of the same political party.

Is Oregon a triplex state?

Oregon. As a result of the 2020 elections, Oregon transitioned from divided control to a Democratic triplex. Democrats flipped the secretary of state's office and maintained control of the attorney general office. Incumbent Gov. Kate Brown (D) was not up for re-election in 2020.

Who did Todd Rokita beat?

Todd Rokita defeated incumbent Curtis Hill and two other candidates in the Republican Party primary convention to determine the party's attorney general nominee in the November 3, 2020, general election. After the final round of voting, Rokita received 52 percent of the delegate vote to Hill's 48 percent. Nate Harter and John Westercamp also participated in the convention and were eliminated in earlier rounds of voting.

What is an attorney general?

Attorneys-General in common law jurisdictions, and jurisdictions with a legal system which is partially derived from the common law tradition, share a common provenance.

Does the Attorney General give legal advice?

In practice, the extent to which the attorney general personally provides legal advice to the government varies between jurisdictions, and even between individual office-holders within the same jurisdiction, often depending on the level and nature of the office-holder's prior legal experience.

What is the role of the Attorney General in Fiji?

In Fiji, the role of the Attorney General is defined as "providing essential legal expertise and support to the Government". More specific functions include "legislative drafting", "legal aid", "the prerogative of mercy" (advising the President), "liquor licensing" and "film censorship".

Is the Attorney General the same as the Minister of Justice?

The Attorney-General attends Cabinet, but the post is not the same as the Minister of Justice. By tradition, persons appointed to the position of Attorney-General have been lawyers. Only two former Attorneys-General have not been lawyers, most recently Dr Michael Cullen who held the post in 2005, and again from 2006.

What is the office of the Attorney General of the Philippines?

The Office of the Solicitor General is the law firm of the Republic of the Philippines. It is tasked with representing the Philippines, the Philippine Government, and all its officials in any litigation or matter requiring the services of a lawyer especially before appellate courts. It is an independent and autonomous office attached to the Department of Justice for budgetary purposes.

When was the Attorney General of Tonga established?

The office of Attorney General was established in Tonga in 1988, and was held jointly with the portfolio of Justice Minister until the two were separated in 2009. The Attorney General is defined as the "Chief Legal Advisor to Government".

What is a non common law office?

Non-common law jurisdictions usually have one or more offices which are similar to attorneys-general in common law jurisdictions, some of which use "attorney-general" as the English translation of their titles.