Tennessee Advocacy

Tennessee General Assembly

Under the Tennessee Constitution, legislative authority of the State is vested in the General Assembly which consists of a Senate and a House of Representatives. The name of the legislative authority may vary from state to state, but usually, it is called the Legislature or the General Assembly. The official title in our state is the “General Assembly of the State of Tennessee” but may also be properly referred to as the Legislature.

The Tennessee General Assembly meets in Nashville each year beginning at noon on the second Tuesday of January. Generally, legislative sessions last from mid-January through late April or May of each year. The General Assembly has 33 Senators and 99 Representatives. The Senate of the 113th General Assembly is composed of 27 Republicans, and 6 Democrats, elected to four-year terms. The House of Representatives of the 113th General Assembly is composed of 75 Republicans and 24 Democrats elected to two-year terms.

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State Board of Education

The Tennessee State Board of Education establishes rules and policies that govern all aspects of education in kindergarten through grade twelve (K-12) in Tennessee. The State Board of Education is composed of 11 members – one from each congressional district, plus a student member, and the Executive Director of the Tennessee Higher Education Commission who serves as a non-voting ex officio member. Board members are unpaid Governor’s appointments, confirmed by the legislature. TSBA places a high priority on maintaining positive and productive relationships with the State Board and its staff. TSBA regularly attends meetings of the State Board and frequently discusses the Association’s position on education issues through correspondence and meetings throughout the year.

Click here for more information about the State Board of Education.