The Tennessee Senate has the power to pass resolutions concerning essentially any issue regarding the state, country, or world. The Senate also has the power to create and enforce its own rules and qualifications for its members. The Senate shares these powers with the Tennessee House of Representatives. The Senate alone has the power to host impeachment proceeding and remove impeached members of office with a 2/3 majority. The Tennessee Senate, according to the state constitution of 1870, is composed of 33 members, one-third the size of the Tennessee House of Representatives. Senators are to be elected from districts of substantially equal population. According to the Tennessee constitution, a county is not to be joined to a portion of another county for purposes of creating a district; this provision has been overridden by the rulings of the Supreme Court of the United States in Baker v. Carr (369 U.S. 182, 1962) and Reynolds v. Sims (337 U.S. 356, 1964). The Tennessee constitution has been amended to allow that if these rulings are ever changed or reversed, a referendum may be held to allow the senate districts to be drawn on a basis other than substantially equal population.
Until 1966, Tennessee state senators served two-year terms. That year the system was changed, by constitutional amendment, to allow four-year terms. In that year, senators in even-numbered districts were elected to two-year terms and those in odd-numbered districts were elected to four-year terms. This created a staggered system in which only half of the senate is up for election at any one time. Senators from even-numbered districts are elected in the same years as presidential elections, and senators from odd-numbered districts are elected in the same years as mid-term elections. Districts are to be sequentially and consecutively numbered; the scheme basically runs from east to west and north to south.[citation needed]
Republicans attained an elected majority in the Senate in the 104th General Assembly (2005–07) for the first time since Reconstruction; a brief majority in the 1990s was the result of two outgoing senators switching parties. Following the 2018 elections, there were no Democratic senators from East Tennessee. There were three Democrats from Memphis in West Tennessee, and three from Middle Tennessee, two from Nashville and one from the Nashville suburb of Goodlettsville.
According to Article III, Section 12 of the Constitution of the State of Tennessee, the Speaker of the Senate assumes Office of Governor in the event of a Vacancy. The Senate elects one of its own members as Speaker and the Speaker automatically becomes Lieutenant Governor of Tennessee. The Speaker appoints a Speaker Pro Tempore who presides over the Senate in the absence of the Speaker as well as a Deputy speaker to assist the Speaker in his or her duties. The current Speaker of the Senate and Lieutenant Governor is Randy McNally, who was elected to the position in 2017. One of the main duties of the Speaker is to preside over the Senate and make Senate committee appointments based upon ability and preference of members, seniority, and party representation. The Speaker also maintains the power to remove members from Committee appointments. The Speaker, in cohort with the Speaker of the House of Representatives, chairs the Joint Legislative Services Committee which provides assistance to the General Assembly. The Speaker also controls staffing and office space with Senate staff. The Speaker serves as an ex-officio member of all standing committees.[1]
Oath and qualifications of office
Oath of office
“I [name of official] do solemnly swear that, as a member of this, the [number, ex. One Hundred Eleventh] General Assembly of the State of Tennessee, I will faithfully support the Constitution of this State and of the United States, and I do solemnly affirm that as a member of this General Assembly, I will, in all appointments, vote without favor, affection, partiality, or prejudice; and that I will not propose or assent to any bill, vote or resolution, which shall appear to me injurious to the people, or consent to any act or thing, whatever, that shall have a tendency to lessen or abridge their rights and privileges, as declared by the Constitution of this state.”[1]
Qualifications for office
“No person shall be a senator unless he shall be a citizen of the United States, of the age of thirty years, and shall have resided three years in this state, and one year in the county or district, immediately preceding the election.”[1]
Composition of the 113th General Assembly (2023-2025)
The Tennessee State Senate has 12 committees in total: 9 standing committees and 3 select committees. Committee assignments for the 112th General Assembly were announced in the January 12, 2021 organizational session:[4]
^"Senate Leadership". capitol.tn.gov. Retrieved January 12, 2023.
^"Tennessee's Senate Democrats elect Nashville's Jeff Yarbro as minority leader". The Tennessean. Retrieved January 30, 2019.
^Kleinheider, Adam (January 13, 2021). "New 112th TGA @tnsenate committee assignments made this morning by @ltgovmcnally. @BrianKelsey will chair Education. @SenatorBriggs moves to State & Local. @HaileforSenate is new Ethics chair". Twitter.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
^"Legislative Senate Committees - Tennessee General Assembly". www.capitol.tn.gov. Retrieved January 12, 2023.
^"Anna Lee Keys Worley". National Women's History Museum. Retrieved August 5, 2018.
tennessee, senate, upper, house, state, tennessee, state, legislature, which, known, formally, tennessee, general, assembly, senate, tennesseetennessee, general, assemblytypetypeupper, houseterm, limitsnonehistorynew, session, startedjanuary, 2023leadershipspe. The Tennessee Senate is the upper house of the U S state of Tennessee s state legislature which is known formally as the Tennessee General Assembly Senate of TennesseeTennessee General AssemblyTypeTypeUpper houseTerm limitsNoneHistoryNew session startedJanuary 10 2023LeadershipSpeakerRandy McNally R since January 10 2017Speaker pro temporeFerrell Haile R since January 19 2018Majority LeaderJack Johnson R since January 8 2019Minority LeaderJeff Yarbro D since January 8 2019StructureSeats33Political groupsMajority party Republican 27 Minority party Democratic 6 Length of term4 yearsAuthorityArticle III Tennessee ConstitutionSalary 19 009 year per diemElectionsLast electionNovember 8 2022 17 seats Next electionNovember 5 2024 16 seats RedistrictingLegislative ControlMeeting placeState Senate ChamberTennessee State CapitolNashville TennesseeWebsitewww wbr capitol wbr tn wbr gov wbr senateThe Tennessee Senate has the power to pass resolutions concerning essentially any issue regarding the state country or world The Senate also has the power to create and enforce its own rules and qualifications for its members The Senate shares these powers with the Tennessee House of Representatives The Senate alone has the power to host impeachment proceeding and remove impeached members of office with a 2 3 majority The Tennessee Senate according to the state constitution of 1870 is composed of 33 members one third the size of the Tennessee House of Representatives Senators are to be elected from districts of substantially equal population According to the Tennessee constitution a county is not to be joined to a portion of another county for purposes of creating a district this provision has been overridden by the rulings of the Supreme Court of the United States in Baker v Carr 369 U S 182 1962 and Reynolds v Sims 337 U S 356 1964 The Tennessee constitution has been amended to allow that if these rulings are ever changed or reversed a referendum may be held to allow the senate districts to be drawn on a basis other than substantially equal population Until 1966 Tennessee state senators served two year terms That year the system was changed by constitutional amendment to allow four year terms In that year senators in even numbered districts were elected to two year terms and those in odd numbered districts were elected to four year terms This created a staggered system in which only half of the senate is up for election at any one time Senators from even numbered districts are elected in the same years as presidential elections and senators from odd numbered districts are elected in the same years as mid term elections Districts are to be sequentially and consecutively numbered the scheme basically runs from east to west and north to south citation needed Republicans attained an elected majority in the Senate in the 104th General Assembly 2005 07 for the first time since Reconstruction a brief majority in the 1990s was the result of two outgoing senators switching parties Following the 2018 elections there were no Democratic senators from East Tennessee There were three Democrats from Memphis in West Tennessee and three from Middle Tennessee two from Nashville and one from the Nashville suburb of Goodlettsville Contents 1 Senate Speaker 2 Oath and qualifications of office 2 1 Oath of office 2 2 Qualifications for office 3 Composition of the 113th General Assembly 2023 2025 4 Senate Leadership and Members 5 Members 6 Senate Committees 7 Past composition of the Senate 8 References 9 External linksSenate Speaker EditAccording to Article III Section 12 of the Constitution of the State of Tennessee the Speaker of the Senate assumes Office of Governor in the event of a Vacancy The Senate elects one of its own members as Speaker and the Speaker automatically becomes Lieutenant Governor of Tennessee The Speaker appoints a Speaker Pro Tempore who presides over the Senate in the absence of the Speaker as well as a Deputy speaker to assist the Speaker in his or her duties The current Speaker of the Senate and Lieutenant Governor is Randy McNally who was elected to the position in 2017 One of the main duties of the Speaker is to preside over the Senate and make Senate committee appointments based upon ability and preference of members seniority and party representation The Speaker also maintains the power to remove members from Committee appointments The Speaker in cohort with the Speaker of the House of Representatives chairs the Joint Legislative Services Committee which provides assistance to the General Assembly The Speaker also controls staffing and office space with Senate staff The Speaker serves as an ex officio member of all standing committees 1 Oath and qualifications of office EditOath of office Edit I name of official do solemnly swear that as a member of this the number ex One Hundred Eleventh General Assembly of the State of Tennessee I will faithfully support the Constitution of this State and of the United States and I do solemnly affirm that as a member of this General Assembly I will in all appointments vote without favor affection partiality or prejudice and that I will not propose or assent to any bill vote or resolution which shall appear to me injurious to the people or consent to any act or thing whatever that shall have a tendency to lessen or abridge their rights and privileges as declared by the Constitution of this state 1 Qualifications for office Edit No person shall be a senator unless he shall be a citizen of the United States of the age of thirty years and shall have resided three years in this state and one year in the county or district immediately preceding the election 1 Composition of the 113th General Assembly 2023 2025 EditAffiliation Party Shading indicates majority caucus TotalRepublican Democratic VacantEnd of previous legislature 27 6 33 0Beginning of 113th GA 27 6 33 0Latest voting share 81 8 18 18 Senate Leadership and Members EditSenate Leaders 2 Speaker of the Senate Lieutenant Governor Randy McNally Speaker pro tempore Ferrell Haile Deputy Speaker Janice Bowling Jon LundbergMajority Party R Leadership Position Minority Party D Jack Johnson Leader Jeff Yarbro 3 Ken Yager Caucus Chairperson Raumesh AkbariMembers EditDistrict Name Party Residence Counties represented1 Steve Southerland Rep Morristown Cocke Greene Hamblen and part of Sevier2 Art Swann Rep Alcoa Blount and part of Sevier3 Rusty Crowe Rep Johnson City Washington Unicoi and part of Carter4 Jon Lundberg Rep Bristol Johnson Sullivan and part of Carter5 Randy McNally Rep Maryville Anderson Loudon and part of Knox6 Becky Duncan Massey Rep Knoxville Part of Knox7 Richard Briggs Rep Knoxville Part of Knox8 Frank S Niceley Rep Strawberry Plains Claiborne Grainger Hancock Hawkins Union and Jefferson9 Mike Bell Rep Riceville Polk McMinn Meigs Monroe and part of Bradley10 Todd Gardenhire Rep Chattanooga Parts of Hamilton and Bradley11 Bo Watson Rep Hixson Part of Hamilton12 Ken Yager Rep Kingston Campbell Fentress Morgan Rhea Roane Pickett and Scott13 Dawn White Rep Murfreesboro Part of Rutherford14 Shane Reeves Rep Murfreesboro Bedford Lincoln Marshall Moore and part of Rutherford15 Paul Bailey Rep Sparta Cumberland Jackson Overton Bledsoe Putnam and White16 Janice Bowling Rep Tullahoma Coffee Franklin Grundy Marion Van Buren and Warren17 Mark Pody Rep Lebanon Cannon Clay DeKalb Macon Smith and Wilson18 Ferrell Haile Rep Gallatin Sumner Trousdale and part of Davidson19 Brenda Gilmore Dem Goodlettsville Part of Davidson20 Heidi Campbell Dem Nashville Part of Davidson21 Jeff Yarbro Dem Nashville Part of Davidson22 Bill Powers Rep Clarksville Stewart Houston and Montgomery23 Jack Johnson Rep Franklin Williamson24 John Stevens Rep Huntingdon Benton Carroll Gibson Henry Obion and Weakley25 Kerry Roberts Rep Springfield Cheatham Dickson Hickman Humphreys and Robertson26 Page Walley Rep Bolivar Chester Decatur Fayette Hardeman Hardin Haywood McNairy and Henderson27 Ed Jackson Rep Jackson Madison Crockett Dyer Lake and Lauderdale28 Joey Hensley Rep Hohenwald Giles Lawrence Lewis Maury Perry and Wayne29 Raumesh Akbari Dem Memphis Part of Shelby30 Sara Kyle Dem Memphis Part of Shelby31 Brian Kelsey Rep Collierville Part of Shelby32 Paul Rose Rep Covington Tipton and part of Shelby33 London Lamar Dem Memphis Part of ShelbySenate Committees EditThe Tennessee State Senate has 12 committees in total 9 standing committees and 3 select committees Committee assignments for the 112th General Assembly were announced in the January 12 2021 organizational session 4 Standing Committees 5 Committee Name Chair Vice ChairCommerce and Labor Sen Paul Bailey R 1st Vice Chair Sen Art Swann R 2nd Vice Chair Sen Frank Nicely R Education Sen Jon Lundberg R 2nd Vice Chair Sen Raumesh Akbari D Energy Agriculture and Natural Resources Sen Steve Southerland R 1st Vice Chair Sen Frank Niceley R 2nd Vice Chair Sen Mark Pody R Finance Ways and Means Sen Bo Watson R 1st Vice Chair Sen John Stevens R 2nd Vice Chair Sen Joey Hensley R Government Operations Sen Kerry Roberts R 1st Vice Chair Sen Ed Jackson R 2nd Vice Chair Sen Janice Bowling R Health and Welfare Sen Rusty Crowe R 1st Vice Chair Sen Ferrell Haile R 2nd Vice Chair Sen Shane Reeves R Judiciary Vacant 1st Vice Chair Sen Dawn White R 2nd Vice Chair Sen Paul Rose R State and Local Government Sen Richard Briggs R 1st Vice Chair Sen Todd Gardenhire R 2nd Vice Chair Sen Page Walley R Transportation and Safety Sen Becky Duncan Massey R 1st Vice Chair Sen Bill Powers R 2nd Vice Chair Sen Mark Pody R Select Committees Committee Name Chair Vice ChairCalendar Sen Ed Jackson R 1st Vice Chair Sen Jack Johnson R 2nd Vice Chair Sen Jeff Yarbro D Ethics Sen Ferrell Haile R 1st Vice Chair Sen John Stevens R Rules Sen Bo Watson R 1st Vice Chair Sen Richard Briggs R Past composition of the Senate EditIn 1921 Anna Lee Keys Worley became the first woman to serve in the Tennessee Senate 6 Main article Political party strength in TennesseeReferences Edit a b c Tennessee Blue Book Senate Leadership capitol tn gov Retrieved January 12 2023 Tennessee s Senate Democrats elect Nashville s Jeff Yarbro as minority leader The Tennessean Retrieved January 30 2019 Kleinheider Adam January 13 2021 New 112th TGA tnsenate committee assignments made this morning by ltgovmcnally BrianKelsey will chair Education SenatorBriggs moves to State amp Local HaileforSenate is new Ethics chair Twitter a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint url status link Legislative Senate Committees Tennessee General Assembly www capitol tn gov Retrieved January 12 2023 Anna Lee Keys Worley National Women s History Museum Retrieved August 5 2018 External links EditOfficial website Coordinates 36 09 57 N 86 47 03 W 36 1658 N 86 7843 W 36 1658 86 7843 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Tennessee Senate amp oldid 1133073013, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
