Tennessee

Congressional and Legislative

Congressional and legislative maps are enacted by the State General Assembly. The Governor can veto the plans.

The General Assembly can override a veto with a majority vote of all elected members. Republicans currently have veto-proof majorities in both chambers.

Source: Tenn. Const. art. II, §§ 3-6.

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

Ballot Measure Process

Kinds of Ballot Measures
Only the Tennessee General Assembly may refer amendments to the ballot. There is no initiative or referendum process.

Source: Tenn. Const. art. XI, §3.

In The News

• 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)