United States Attorney

United States Advocates-General (formerly 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. In and for each State, the U.S. Advocate-General therein is the person appointed by the Governor-General on the recommendation United States Attorney-General, by and with the Advice and Consent of the United States Senate, to represent the Government of the United States before the Courts of the State in which he is stationed.

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 represent, in each State, Territory, and the District constituting the Seat of Government of the United States, the Government of the United States in all civil and criminal actions in which the United States shall be concerned..."

Appointment
In and for each State, Territory, and the District constituting the Seat of the Government of the United States, the Governor-General, acting on the recommendation of the United States Attorney-General, nominates and, by and with the Advice and Consent of the United States Senate, appoints the U.S. Advocate-General for that State, Territory, or District; to a Term of two Years, which may be renewed no more than three Times in a row; and may be removed with Cause at any Time during said Term.

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; and 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 in all civil and criminal actions in which the United States shall be concerned. 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 general jurisdiction court (e.g., the “superior 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