Tennessee

Congressional & Legislative

Primary Authority: Congressional and legislative maps are enacted by the Tennessee General Assembly, subject to the Governor’s veto. The General Assembly can override a veto with a majority vote in each chamber. Republicans currently have a veto-proof majority in both chambers. [Tenn. Const. art. II, §§ 3 – 6; Tenn. Code Ann. §§ 3-1-101 – 3-1-103]

If a bill is presented to the governor during or after session, the governor has 10 days to sign or veto it; otherwise, it becomes law without signature. Sundays and days of delivery are excluded from these calculations.

Mapping Timeline: Not specified for congressional plans. The General Assembly is generally required to enact legislative plans after the decennial census results are available, but no deadline is specified. [Tenn. Const. art. II, § 4]

Redistricting Criteria: Contiguous; No counties divided unless necessary (max 30 counties split); Substantially equal population; No split precincts (must be changed after maps passed to conform). [Tenn. Const. art. II, §§ 4 – 6; Tenn. Code Ann. §§ 3-1-102 – 3-1-103]

Map Challenges: Not specified.

Ballot Measure & Referendum Processes

Types of Measures: Only the Tennessee General Assembly can refer amendments to the ballot. There is no initiative or referendum process. [Tenn. Const. art. XI, § 3]

Previous Redistricting Cycles

2010

• Congressional
  • Original Plan – HB 1558
    • Passed = January 13, 2012 (R-controlled)
    • Signed = January 26, 2012
  • Litigation History
    • None
• Legislative
  • Original Plans – HB 1555 (House); SB 1514 (Senate)
    • Passed = January 13, 2012 (House); January 19, 2012 (Senate) (R-controlled)
    • Signed = January 26, 2012 (House); February 9, 2012 (Senate)
  • Litigation History
    • Moore v. State, 436 S.W.3d 775 (Tenn. Ct. App. 2014): Eight registered voters filed a lawsuit challenging the General Assembly’s enacted state Senate plan on the grounds it divided more counties than necessary in violation of the state constitution. On May 15, 2014, the Tennessee Court of Appeals affirmed the trial court’s judgment upholding the plan as constitutional.

2000

• Congressional
  • Original Plan – HB 274
    • Passed = January 10, 2002 (D-controlled)
    • Signed = January 17, 2002
  • Litigation History
    • None
• Legislative
  • Original Plans – HB 276 (House); SB 197 (Senate)
    • Passed = January 10, 2002 (D-controlled)
    • Signed = January 17, 2002
  • Litigation History
    • None

In The News

• Judges dismiss suit alleging Tennessee’s political maps discriminate against communities of color, AP (8/22/24)
• Federal court upholds Tennessee’s U.S. House map, rules it’s gerrymandered but not racially, Tennessee Lookout (8/22/24)
• Tennessee’s population growth puts it on track for additional U.S. House seat in 2032, Tennessee Lookout (3/25/24)
• Tennessee Supreme Court blocks decision to redraw state's Senate redistricting maps, Williamson Herald (12/9/23)
• Judges rule against Tennessee Senate redistricting map over treatment of Nashville seats, AP (11/22/23)
• Redistricting Maps Trial Begins in Nashville to Stop Approval of "Gerrymandered Districts", ABC24 (4/17/23)
• Tennessee High Court Reinstates New State Senate Districts, AP (4/14/22)
• Governor Appeals Judicial Opinion Blocking Senate Redistricting Plan, Tennessee Lookout (4/7/22)
• Senate Redistricting Map Blocked by Tennessee Court, AP (4/6/22)
• Tennessee Sued Over State House, Senate Redistricting Maps, AP (2/24/22)
• Gov. Bill Lee Signs Redistricting Bills Dividing Davidson County into Three Congressional Districts, Nashville Tennessean (2/7/22)
• Tennessee House Passes Redistricting Maps, The Center Square (1/24/22)
• Tennessee Redistricting Maps Sent to Full Senate for Vote, The Center Square (1/18/22)
• Republican Redistricting Plan Advances, Splits Nashville into 3 Districts, Tennessean (1/12/22)
• Tennessee House Panel Adopts New Redistricting Plan, AP (12/17/21)
• Tennessee House Speaker Unveils Redistricting Panel Members, AP (8/27/21)
• Republicans Maintain Control in Tennessee Legislature, AP (11/4/20)
• Census Delay Should not Affect Tennessee Redistricting, but Local Governments Will Be On Time Crunch, The Center Square (5/28/20)