State
What a state attorney general does
The state’s chief legal officer. They defend the state in court, issue legal opinions, and often enforce consumer and criminal statutes the legislature wrote. They do not sit as a judge.
Sep 10, 2026 · 5 min read · WhyIVote civic explainer
The office
The attorney general (AG) is usually elected statewide. They are the state’s lawyer: civil litigation, opinions that agencies rely on, and — in many states — consumer protection, Medicaid fraud, and some criminal appeals.
Local prosecutions of ordinary crime are typically the district attorney or county prosecutor, not the AG. Exceptions exist; check your state.
What they can change
- Which civil cases the state brings or settles (subject to law and sometimes legislative oversight).
- Legal opinions that bind or guide state agencies until a court says otherwise.
- Multistate actions against companies, and challenges to federal rules.
- In some states, supervision or takeover of a local prosecutor’s office.
Money they vote on
The AG does not pass the state budget. Their office budget is a line in that budget. Settlements can bring money into the state — how it is spent is often a legislative or statutory decision, not a personal AG fund.
Who they can help — and who they cannot
Consumer scams, state civil-rights enforcement, and opinions on state law. They cannot rewrite criminal codes, grant you a license the statute forbids, or decide your private lawsuit as a court would.
