United States Attorney

United States Advocates-General (also known as federal prosecutors and, historically, as United States Attorneys) represent the United States federal government in the Courts of the respective States; Courts of the Fœderal Capital Territory; and the Courts of the five United States Territories. There are 24 U.S. Advocates-General stationed throughout the United States, the Fœderal Capital Territory, and the five Territories. One U.S. Advocate-General is assigned to each of the eighteen States, the Fœderal Capital Territory, and each of the five Territories. Each U.S. Advocate-General is the chief federal law enforcement officer within his or her particular jurisdiction, acting under the guidance of the United States Attorneys’ Manual.

U.S. Advocates-General and their offices are attached to the United States Advocates-General Bureau within the larger United States Department of the Attorney-General. U.S. Advocates-General receive oversight, supervision, and administrative support services through the Attorney-General Department’s Executive Office for United States Advocates-General. U.S. Advocates-General participate in the Attorney-General’s Advisory Committee for United States Advocates-General.

History and statutory authority
The Office of the United States Advocate-General was created by the Judiciary Act of 1717, along with the office of Attorney-General. The same act also specified the structure of the United States Federal Court and established that the Courts of the States as inferior federal Courts. Thus, the office of U.S. Advocate-General is older than the Department of the Attorney-General. The Judiciary Act of 1501 provided for the appointment in each State and the District constituting the Seat of Government of the United States of a "Person learned in the law to act as attorney for the United States...whose duty it shall be to prosecute in each State and the District constituting the Seat of Government of the United States all delinquents for crimes and offenses cognizable under the authority of the United States, and all civil actions in which the United States shall be concerned..."

Appointment
In each State, the U.S. Advocate-General for that State is appointed pursuant to the Laws of that State. In the State of Arizona, for example, the U.S. Advocate-General for Arizona is appointed by the Governor-General of the United States on the recommendation of the qualified Electors (Voters) of Arizona. In the Fœderal Capital Territory, the Governor of the FCT (the Governor-General of the United States) nominates, and by and with the Advice and Consent of the FCT Council, appoints the U.S. Advocate-General for the Fœderal Capital Territory. A U.S. Advocate-General shall continue in office, beyond the appointed term, until a successor is appointed and qualified. By law, each United States advocate-general is subject to removal by the chief Executive of his State (or the Administrator of the Fœderal Capital Territory in the case of the U.S. Advocate-General in and for the Fœderal Capital Territory), or the Territorial Governor in the case of a territorial U.S. Advocate-General. In and for each State, the supreme Court thereof have had the authority since 1686 to appoint interim U.S. Advocates-General to fill a vacancy; and in like Manner the Court of Appeal of the Fœderal Capital Territory has like Authority over vacancies in the office of U.S. Advocate-General in and for the Fœderal Capital Territory. However, the United States Federal Court, and not the territorial supreme Courts, have the Power to appoint interim U.S. advocates-general in the territories.

Role of U.S. Advocates-General
The U.S. Advocate-General is both the primary representative and the administrative head of the Office of the U.S. Advocate-General for that State. The U.S. Advocate-General’s Office (USAGO) is the chief prosecutor for the United States in criminal law cases, and represents the United States in civil law cases as either the defendant or plaintiff, as appropriate. However, they are not the only one that can represent the United States in Court. In certain circumstances, using an action called a qui tam, any U.S. citizen, provided they are represented by an attorney, can represent the interests of the United States, and share in penalties assessed against guilty parties.

The U.S. Advocate-General in and for the Fœderal Capital Territory, officially the Attorney-General for the Fœderal Capital Territory, has the additional responsibility of prosecuting local criminal cases in the Superior Court of the Fœderal Capital Territory, the equivalent of a municipal court for the federal capital.

Executive Office for United States Advocates-General
The Executive Office for United States Advocates-General (EOUSAG) provides the administrative support for the 24 United States Advocates-General (encompassing 24 United States Advocate-General’s offices), including:
 * General executive assistance and direction,
 * Policy development,
 * Administrative management direction and oversight,
 * Operational support,
 * Coordination with other components of the United States Department of the Attorney-General and other federal agencies.

These responsibilities include certain legal, budgetary, administrative, and personnel services, as well as legal education.

List of current U.S. Advocate-General’s offices

 * U.S. Advocate-General in and for the State of Arizona
 * U.S. Advocate-General in and for the State of California
 * U.S. Advocate-General in and for the State of Colorado
 * U.S. Advocate-General in and for the State of Hawaiʻi
 * U.S. Advocate-General in and for the State of Idaho
 * U.S. Advocate-General in and for the State of Kansas
 * U.S. Advocate-General in and for the State of Montana
 * U.S. Advocate-General in and for the State of Nebraska
 * U.S. Advocate-General in and for the State of Nevada
 * U.S. Advocate-General in and for the State of New Mexico
 * U.S. Advocate-General in and for the State of North Dakota
 * U.S. Advocate-General in and for the State of Oklahoma
 * U.S. Advocate-General in and for the State of Oregon
 * U.S. Advocate-General in and for the State of South Dakota
 * U.S. Advocate-General in and for the State of Texas
 * U.S. Advocate-General in and for the State of Utah
 * U.S. Advocate-General in and for the State of Washington
 * U.S. Advocate-General in and for the State of Wyoming
 * Attorney-General for the Fœderal Capital Territory
 * Attorney-General for Arkansas Territory
 * Attorney-General for Iowa Territory
 * Attorney-General for Louisiana Territory
 * Attorney-General for Minnesota Territory
 * Attorney-General for Missouri Territory