what are two major functions of the texas attorney general lawyer

How do you contact Texas Attorney General?

the Office of the Attorney General. Attorney General Ken Paxton is the lawyer for the State of Texas and is charged by the Texas Constitution to: defend the laws and the Constitution of the State of Texas. To fulfill these responsibilities, the Office of the Attorney General serves as legal counsel to all boards and agencies of state government, issues legal opinions when …

What is the role of the Attorney General?

The main responsibilities of the Office of the Attorney General are defending the State of Texas and its duly elected laws by providing legal representation to the State, serving the children of Texas through the enforcement of the state’s child support laws, securing justice for Texans, protecting Texans from waste, fraud, and abuse, and safeguarding the freedoms of Texans as …

What are the duties of a Deputy Attorney General?

Oct 02, 2018 · Taxation and property are two functional areas significant to the work of the attorney general; the attorney general sues for recovery of taxes owed the state of Texas and protects the public interest with respect to abandoned property that escheats to the state.

What are the responsibilities of the US Attorney General?

The Texas attorney general is a. mainly a civil lawyer who defends state laws enacted by the legislature. b. a civil judge who overhears cases involving the state and private parties. c. mainly a criminal lawyer who is primarily involved in murder cases. d. a constitutional lawyer whose duty is to determine the constitutionality of legislation.

What are the functions of Attorney General?

advise Government Ministries, Departments, Constitutional Commissions and State Corporations on legislative and other legal matters;advise the Government on all matters relating to the Constitution, international law, human rights, consumer protection and legal aid;More items...•Jan 1, 2021

What is a Texas attorney general?

Ken Paxton (Republican Party)Texas / Attorney generalWarren Kenneth Paxton Jr. is an American lawyer and politician who has served as the Attorney General of Texas since January 2015. Paxton has described himself as a Tea Party conservative. Paxton was re-elected to a second term as Attorney General in 2018. Wikipedia

What are the powers of the attorney general of the Federation?

The Attorney-General has the power to institute in any court of competent jurisdiction any civil proceedings, with or without a relator, involving the rights and interests of the public which he deems necessary for the enforcement of Federal laws, the preservation of order and the prevention of public wrongs.Jan 26, 2021

How many attorney generals are in Texas?

OfficeholdersNo.NameTerm of service47Dan Morales1991–199948John Cornyn1999–200249Greg Abbott2002–201550Ken Paxton2015–present46 more rows

What is the Texas Statutes of the Attorney General?

See statutes: Texas Statutes Title 6, Chapter 659. The attorney general, along with the rest of Texas' executive officers, is entitled by Article 4, Section 23 of the Texas Constitution to receive an annual salary, pursuant to Title 6, Section 659.011 of the Texas Statutes.

What is the Attorney General of Texas?

14 Footnotes. The Attorney General of Texas is the chief lawyer and legal officer for the state of Texas. According to the Texas Constitution, the attorney general defends the laws and the constitution of the state of Texas, represents the state in litigation, and approves public bond issues.

Who won the 2010 Texas election?

To view the electoral history dating back to 2002 for the office of Texas Attorney General, Click to expand the section. On November 2, 2010, Greg Abbott won re-election to the office of Texas Attorney General. He defeated Barbara Ann Radnofsky (D) and Jon Roland (L) in the general election.

Who did Greg Abbott defeat?

He defeated Barbara Ann Radnofsky (D) and Jon Roland (L) in the general election. Election results via Texas Secretary of State. On November 7, 2006, Greg Abbott won re-election to the office of Texas Attorney General. He defeated David Van Os (D) and Jon Roland (L) in the general election.

What is the Attorney General of Texas?

The Attorney General is the constitutional, statewide elected official who acts as the attorney for the State of Texas. The Attorney General: 1 enforces state consumer protection laws; 2 collects court-ordered child support; and 3 administers the Crime Victims' Compensation Fund.

What is the state bar of Texas?

The State Bar of Texas is the agency with authority to regulate attorneys in Texas. If you have a complaint about the actions of an attorney, contact the State Bar’s Grievance Committee at (800) 932-1900. I have a complaint against a private business.

What is the PUC in Texas?

The Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUC) is the agency charged with ensuring that regulated electric and local telephone utilities observe state rules and service standards. Contact the PUC regarding your concerns at (888) 782-8477 or on the Web at www.puc.state.tx.us.

How to contact the Texas State Law Library?

The Library, which houses all state and federal codes and statutes, can be reached at (512) 463-1722 or on the Web at www.sll.state.tx.us. I’m having trouble with my utility.

What to do if you disagree with Texas appraisal?

If you disagree with the tax rate, make your views known to the appropriate taxing authority (city, county, school district or other). If you want to complain about the actions of an appraiser, contact the Texas Appraiser Licensing and Certification Board at (512) 465-3950 or on the Web at www.talcb.state.tx.us.

How to contact Texas Open Meetings?

For information about the Texas Public Information Act or the Texas Open Meetings Act, you may wish to call our open government hotline at (512) 478-OPEN (6736) or toll-free at (877) OPEN TEX (673-6839). In addition, our open government publications are available on our Web site at www.texasattorneygeneral.gov or upon request by calling (512) ...

How to contact the Attorney General for child support?

For information about child support services, call the Office of the Attorney General’s Child Support Division at (800) 252-8014 or consult your phone directory for the number to your local office. Information is also available on the Office of the Attorney General Web site at www.texasattorneygeneral.gov.

What does the Attorney General do in Texas?

To fulfill these responsibilities, the Office of the Attorney General serves as legal counsel to all boards and agencies of state government, issues legal opinions when requested by the Governor, heads of state agencies and other officials ...

How many references to the Attorney General are there in Texas?

Texas statutes contain nearly 2000 references to the Attorney General. In addition to its constitutionally prescribed duties, the Office of the Attorney General files civil suits upon referral by other state agencies.

Who protects the rights of all citizens of Texas?

Although the Attorney General is prohibited from offering legal advice or representing private individuals, he serves and protects the rights of all citizens of Texas through the activities of the various divisions of the agencies.

Who has jurisdiction to prosecute a violation of the law?

In some circumstances, the Attorney General has original jurisdiction to prosecute violations of the law, but in most cases, criminal prosecutions by the Attorney General are initiated only upon the request of a local prosecutor.

What is Attorney General Paxton's approach to protecting the health and safety of Texasans?

Attorney General Paxton has also been aggressive in his approach to protecting the health and safety of Texans from illegal synthetic drugs. His office has filed more than a dozen lawsuits to block the sale of synthetic cannabinoids (known as Kush and Spice) in Texas.

How many employees does Attorney General Paxton have?

He was re-elected to a second term in 2018. As the state’s top law enforcement officer, Attorney General Paxton leads more than 4,000 employees in 38 divisions and 117 offices around Texas.

What did Attorney General Paxton do to the Obama Clean Power Plan?

Attorney General Paxton led a successful multistate coalition against the Obama-era Clean Power Plan, which would have increased consumer prices for electricity and weakened the power grid in Texas. Most recently, a U.S. District Court agreed with his 20-state coalition lawsuit holding Obamacare unconstitutional.

How much money did the Texas Department of Revenue collect in 2020?

In fiscal year 2020, the division collected more than $4.8 billion for Texas families – an unprecedented amount in one year by any state. This success helped Texas taxpayers avoid over $1 billion in additional public assistance costs. Attorney General Paxton is focused on protecting Texans and upholding Texas laws and the Constitution.

How many lawsuits did Obama file against the government?

Fighting federal overreach, he filed 27 lawsuits against the Obama administration during a two-year stretch, of which six were heard in the U.S. Supreme Court. He's obtained an injunction or other winning ruling in more than 75 percent of the cases he's brought against the federal government.

What did stopping the EPA's water rule preserve?

Stopping the EPA's “Waters of the United States” rule preserved Texans' ability to regulate their own natural resources, including ponds, puddles and streams on private property. Businesses were protected and jobs preserved in Texas when Attorney General Paxton prevailed against the Department of Labor’s “Overtime” rule.

Where is Senator John Paulson's wife?

In 2012, he was elected to the Texas state Senate, representing Senate District 8 in Collin and Dallas counties. He met his wife Angela while they were students at Baylor. She is the state Senator for District 8 and a former teacher and guidance counselor at Legacy Christian Academy in Frisco.

What does the Attorney General do in Texas?

The attorney general acts against persons or corporations violating the environmental-protection laws of Texas or illegally extracting natural resources. The office also enforces the state's antitrust laws and prosecutes persons who mishandle state funds.

What is the role of the Attorney General?

The attorney general acts as an instrument for achieving administrative flexibility in the state's legal system, thus enabling government to adjust to changing policy demands through flexible interpretations of statutory and constitutional law.

Why is the Attorney General important?

Wherever the political system and the legal systems converge or conflict, the attorney general is essential to state government. The office effects innovative but incremental change that fosters administrative and political viability and stability.

What is the modern office in Texas?

The modern office is the result of an intricate combination of rules, traditions, and circumstances. Many of the leading political figures in Texas history have served as attorney general, several of them using the office as a jumping-off place to other offices in state and national government.

When was the Texas Attorney General established?

With roots in the British common law and Spanish civil law, the office of Texas attorney general was first established by executive ordinance in 1836 . The attorneys general of the Republic of Texas and the first four attorneys general under the first state constitution (1845) were appointed by the governor;

Who represents the interests of Texas?

Whenever the interests of Texas state government are involved in civil law, the attorney general must represent and defend those interests. The state of Texas is represented by the attorney general in the courts of Texas and of the United States. The office influences all Texas government agencies through its advisory-opinion function, ...

What was John Ben Shepperd's most distinctive enterprise?

Attorney General John Ben Shepperd 's (1953–57) most distinctive enterprise was an investigative campaign and resulting civil suits against the political machine of George B. Parr in Duval County.

What is the role of a civil lawyer?

e. both a criminal and civil lawyer who defends the state against the federal courts. mainly a civil lawyer who defends state laws enacted by the legislature. The comptroller of public accounts is.

What is the role of the comptroller of public accounts?

The comptroller of public accounts is. a. the state's primary tax administrator, a certified public accountant, and responsible for writing the budget. b. the state's accounting officer, a certified public accountant, and responsible for proposing new taxes.

What was the role of the comptroller in the 1990s?

The comptroller's powerful role in budgetary affairs was enhanced by auditing and oversight authority in 1990 and 1991, leading to the identification of billions of dollars in potential savings. true. 18. The office of the commissioner of agriculture was created by the constitution rather than by statute.

What is the plural executive?

A plural executive is a(n) . a. uncommon system of authority in which the office of the governor is shared by a council chosen by the legislature. b. system of authority in which the governorship is rotated among members of a chief council appointed by the legislature. c. fragmented system of authority under which most statewide, ...

What is fragmented system of authority?

fragmented system of authority under which power is equally shared between the governor and lieutenant governor, though the former is the chief executive of the state. fragmented system of authority under which most statewide, executive officeholders are elected.

Who is the Attorney General of Texas?

The current Texas Attorney General is Ken Paxton. [2] Secretary of State: The Texas Secretary of State is appointed by the Texas Governor and confirmed by the Texas Senate.

Who is the presiding officer of the Texas Senate?

Below are some of the members of the Texas Plural Executive and their roles: Lieutenant Governor: Serves as the presiding officer of the Texas Senate, first in line of succession for Governor, member of the Legislative Redistricting Board, Chair of the Legislative Budget Board, elected to 4 years terms by the public with no term limits.

What is the office of the Commissioner of the General Land Office?

Even though this office is part of the Executive Branch, the Office of the Commissioner of the General Land Office is authorized by Article 14, Section 1 of the Texas Constitution. [4] Comptroller of Public Accounts: The Comptroller serves as the chief tax collector and accounting officer. This office is also responsible for certifying ...

What is the plural executive in Texas?

Texas Plural Executive. Article 4 of the Texas Constitution describes the executive department (branch) of Texas. Texas utilizes a “plural executive” which means the power of the Governor are limited and distributed amongst other government officials. In other words, there is not one government official in Texas that is solely responsible for ...

Who is the Texas Comptroller?

Glenn Hegar currently serves as the Texas Comptroller and is elected by the people to 4 years terms with no term limits. [5] Other members of the Texas Plural Executive include: Commissioner of Agriculture, Railroad Commission, State Board of Education, Elected/Appointed Boards and Commissions, Appointed Agency Directors.

Who is the Secretary of State of Texas?

Rolando Pablos is the current Texas Secretary of State. [3] Commissioner of the General Land Office: The Commissioner is elected by the people to one 4 year term. George P. Bush (son of Jeb Bush) runs the Texas General Land Office, which manages and administers mineral leases and state lands.

Who is Dan Patrick?

Dan Patrick is the current Texas Lieutenant Governor. [1] Attorney General: Serves as the lawyer for the state of Texas, including representing the state on civil matters, and responsible for the interpretation of the constitutionality of laws.

Current Officeholder

• The Office of Attorney General is committed to performing its duties with excellence, serving Texas with humility and integrity, and exploring innovative solutions in accomplishing the work of the agency.

See more on texasattorneygeneral.gov

Qualifications

Vacancies

• The current officeholder is Republican Ken Paxton. He was first elected attorney general in November 2014, and took office on January 5, 2015.

See more on ballotpedia.org

Elections

Divisions

Historical Officeholders

Recent News