The Green Papers: Tennessee State and Local Government

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Governor:1
Senators: 2 (Electoral Classes 1 and 2)
2020 Census: 6,916,897 (2.08% of 331,797,979
- 2024, 2028 Electors: 11 (2.04% of 538)
- 2022-2030 Representatives: 9 (2.07% of 435)
2010 Census: 6,375,431 (2.06% of 309,785,186)
- 2012, 2016, 2020 Electors: 11 (2.04% of 538)
- 2012-2020 Representatives: 9 (2.07% of 435)
Capital: Nashville

Current Tennessee Statewide Office Holders

Official Name/Status All States

The STATE of Tennessee
Status: STATE of the Union
Organized as a Territory: 26 May 1790. 1 Stat. 123: as the "Territory South of the River Ohio" (informally, the "Southwest Territory"); previously, what would become Tennessee had been part of the State of North Carolina
Admitted to the Union as a State: 1 June 1796 by an Act of Congress (1 Stat. 491) recognizing a State government already formed
The 16th state.

Traditional Sections and Regions All States

Section: SOUTH
Region: Upper ["Border"] South
Survey: Metes & Bounds

Constitutions All States Links to State Constitutions

Enabling Act: [Tennessee never had an Enabling Act prior to its Admission as a State]
- 1st (1796-1835) [Adopted: 6 February 1796 Convention convened, 11 January 1796, Ratified: 6 February 1796 not submitted to the People; effective upon Admission, 1 June 1796]
- 2nd (1835-1870) [Adopted: 30 August 1834 Convention convened, 19 May 1834, Ratified: 6 March 1835 ratified by a vote of 42,666 to 17,691]
- 3rd (1870-) [Adopted: 23 February 1870 Convention convened, 10 January 1870, Ratified: 26 March 1870 ratified by a vote of 98,128 to 33,872]

Executive Branch All States

Chief Executive
- GOVERNOR
Successor to a Vacancy
- Speaker of the State Senate

Major Executive Officers Elected Statewide All States
- Governor: 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2022, 2026. Term Limit: 2 consecutive 4-year terms. GOVERNOR is the only Statewide elected officer

Legislative Branch All States

Legislature
- GENERAL ASSEMBLY

Upper House
- Senate
Lower House
- House of Representatives

Judicial Branch All States

Court of Last Resort
- Supreme Court
Intermediate Appellate Court
- Court of Appeals [IN: grand division FOR: State]
- Court of Criminal Appeals [IN: grand division FOR: State]

Local Government All States

PRIMARY CIVIL DIVISION All States
- County [Type: Strong, Executive: Executive, Legislative: BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS]
  - MINOR CIVIL DIVISION
    - district [Type: None, Executive and Legislative: no associated governmental structure]

Statutory Election Information All States

General Election All States
- 1st Tuesday after 1st Monday in November in even-numbered years
  [TN Constitution Art.II, sec.7 re: members of both houses of the General Assembly; TN Constitution Art. III, sec. 2 specifically mandates that the Governor be chosen at the same time as members of the General Assembly in the General Election immediately preceding the end of the incumbent Governor's term of office]
Presidential Primary All States
- (--2003) 2d Tuesday in March of Presidential Election years
  [TN Code 2-13-205]
- (2003-2007) On the second Tuesday in February before presidential electors are elected, a presidential preference primary shall be held for each statewide political party.
  [TN Code 2-13-205]
- (2007-2011) On the first Tuesday in February before presidential electors are elected, a presidential preference primary shall be held for each statewide political party.
  [TN Code 2-13-205]
- (2011--) On the first Tuesday in March before presidential electors are elected, a presidential preference primary shall be held for each statewide political party.
  [TN Code 2-13-205]
State Primary All States
- 1st Thursday in August
  [TN Code 2-13-202]
  (NOTE: this date happens to be the one set aside for that known as the "regular August election" at which "judicial and other civil officers" are elected per TN Constitution Art. VII, sec. 5 and TN Code 2-3-202; TN Code 2-13-202 mandates the nomination of State and Federal officers at this "regular August election")
Polling times All States
- polls open: no later than 8 AM local time in the more populous counties
  ...but nothing shall prevent an earlier opening time in the discretion of the county election commission....
  (in all counties, polls must be open no less than 10 continuous hours);
  no polling place in the State may be open more than 13 continuous hours
  polls close: 8 PM local time in the Eastern Time Zone;
  7 PM local time in the Central Time Zone
  [TN Code 2-3-201]

Links Links to other web sites. These links are being provided as a convenience and for informational purposes.

State and Local Government Outline

Modified .