Which position is primarily responsible for enforcing laws in Missouri?

The Attorney General is primarily responsible for enforcing laws in Missouri. This position entails serving as the chief legal officer of the state, which includes the responsibility of defending the state’s laws and interests in court and overseeing the enforcement of various state statutes. The Attorney General also plays a key role in consumer protection, upholding civil rights, and prosecuting criminal offenses.

While the Governor has broad executive powers and can enforce laws through the executive branch, the specific duty of interpreting, applying, and enforcing legal statutes typically falls to the Attorney General. This includes taking legal action against those who violate state laws. The Lieutenant Governor and the State Auditor have different roles; the former acts as a secondary executive officer and may have some law enforcement oversight in specific instances, while the latter focuses on financial accountability and audits of state agencies rather than law enforcement.