Which of the following describes the duties of the State's Attorney?

• A. Enforces zoning
• B. Prosecutes accused criminals, defends the county in lawsuits, and gives legal advice to county officials
• C. Oversees school curriculum
• D. Collects property taxes

Answer: (B)

The State's Attorney is the official who handles the government's legal actions in court and provides legal guidance to county officials. This includes prosecuting criminals on behalf of the government, representing the county in civil lawsuits, and advising county officials on legal matters, contracts, and compliance to keep governmental actions lawful and risk-free.

Enforcing zoning is handled by planning or zoning officials who apply land-use rules; overseeing school curriculum is the job of the school board or education department; collecting property taxes is the responsibility of the tax assessor or treasurer. These functions are separate from the prosecutorial and advisory duties of the State's Attorney, which is why the described combination of duties fits best.