Authority
In each state and the federal government the highest ranking legal officer of the government. the federal attorney general is chief of the department of justice appointed by the president with confirmation required by the senate, and a member of the cabinet. he or she is in charge of federal prosecutions (including overseeing the numerous regional u.s. attorneys), and numerous cases and matters in which the federal government has a legal interest, particularly when the federal government is a party or federal regulations are at issue. the attorney general also has oversight of the federal bureau of investigation and other law enforcement operations of the justice department. although elected, state attorneys general have similar functions within their states, although the supervision of local prosecutions is seldom exercised unless there is some gross mismanagement. different legislatures have assigned varying functions to the state departments of justice, including consumer protection, environmental law, supervision of trusts and non-profit corporations, and other issues in which the state government may have a particular interest in protecting the citizenry.
