The attorney general is chosen via statewide election and serves four-year terms with no term limits. The constitutional qualifications to serve as attorney general are low: 18 years of age, U.S. citizen, resident of Texas for 12 months. In 2016, the Attorney General was compensated $153,750/year.
As the state’s chief legal advisor, the attorney general is responsible for various functions, including:
- representing the state in courts
- filing lawsuits on behalf of the state (usually questioning the constitutionality of federal actions under the principle of federalism)
- issuing advisory opinions on legal matters to the governor, legislature, and state agencies within the bureaucracy
- enforcing state anti-trust and consumer protection laws
- investigating and prosecuting criminal activities, including crimes of human trafficking, internet crimes against children, and election fraud
- assisting local law enforcement in prosecutions and appeals
- enforcing open government (i.e., sunset) laws
- collecting unpaid child support
- collecting delinquent state taxes