Governor of Tennessee facts for kids
The governor of Tennessee is the top leader of the U.S. state of Tennessee. Think of them as the state's chief executive officer. They are also the commander of Tennessee's military forces. The governor is the only state official chosen directly by voters from all over Tennessee.
The current governor is Bill Lee. He is a member of the Republican Party. Governor Lee started his first term on January 19, 2019, as the state's 50th governor. He was re-elected for a second term in 2022.
Quick facts for kids Governor of Tennessee |
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Flag of the governor
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| Government of Tennessee | |
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| Residence | Tennessee Governor's Mansion |
| Term length | Four years, renewable once consecutively |
| Constituting instrument | Tennessee Constitution of 1796 |
| Inaugural holder | John Sevier |
| Formation | March 30, 1796 |
| Deputy | Lieutenant Governor of Tennessee (The Speaker of the Senate holds the title and succession) |
| Salary | $204,336 (2022) |
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Contents
Becoming Governor
The Tennessee Constitution sets rules for who can be governor. A person must be at least 30 years old. They must also have lived in Tennessee for at least seven years before the election.
The governor serves a four-year term. They can serve only two terms in a row. Tennessee is one of only three states where the governor is the only official elected by the whole state. The other two are New Jersey and Hawaii.
What the Governor Does
The Tennessee Constitution says the governor has the "supreme executive power." This means they are in charge of running the state government. The governor appoints many state department heads. They also choose members for various state boards and commissions.
The governor is the commander-in-chief of the state's National Guard and state militia. This is true unless these forces are called to serve the federal government. The governor also leads important state boards. These include the Tennessee Board of Regents and the University of Tennessee's Board of Trustees.
Veto Power
The governor can veto (reject) laws passed by the Tennessee General Assembly. They can also use a line-item veto. This allows them to reject specific spending items in a bill. However, the legislature can override a governor's veto. They need a simple majority vote in both houses. If the governor vetoes a bill after the legislature has finished its session, the veto stands. Governors in Tennessee do not often use their veto power. This is because it is easy for the General Assembly to override it.
Calling Special Sessions
The governor can call the General Assembly together for a special meeting. This is allowed by Article III Section 9 of the state constitution. During these special sessions, they can only discuss topics the governor listed.
Choosing Judges
One important power of the governor is to appoint judges. This happens for state, local, and appeals courts. This system is called the Tennessee Plan. First, a special commission checks potential judges. Then, the governor makes the appointment. After their first term, judges must run in a retention election. This decides if they will serve another term.
Cabinet Members
The Tennessee Governor's Cabinet helps the governor run the state. It includes seven key staff members and 23 Executive Departments. Key staff include the Chief of Staff and Communications Director. The Executive Departments include Agriculture, Education, Health, and Labor. Most of these positions are chosen by the governor. However, some roles, like secretary of state and attorney general, are elected by voters.
Before becoming governor, Bill Lee announced some of his first choices. These included leaders for the Department of Military and Veterans Services. He later announced new leaders for the Departments of Health, Developmental Disability, and General Services.
State of the State Address
The Tennessee Constitution says the governor should inform the General Assembly about the state of the government. They also recommend new ideas. This happens in the State of the State address. This speech is usually given in January. It outlines the governor's plans for the year.
For example, in 2019, Governor Bill Lee talked about adding money to the state's "Rainy Day Fund." This fund saves money for tough times. He said, "When this budget is implemented, our Rainy Day Fund will be $1.1 billion – the largest it has ever been." When a governor is leaving office, their last speech highlights their achievements. For instance, Bill Haslam in 2018 spoke about job growth and better funding for schools.
Governor's Pay
As of 2022, the governor's salary was $204,336 per year. This is one of the highest governor salaries in the U.S. However, some past governors, like Bill Haslam and Phil Bredesen, were already wealthy. They chose not to accept their state salaries.
Who Takes Over?
Tennessee does not elect a separate lieutenant governor. If the governor leaves office early, the Speaker of the Tennessee Senate becomes governor. This is why the Speaker is often called "lieutenant governor." This title was made official by law in 1951.
After the Speaker of the Senate, the next in line are:
- The speaker of the Tennessee House of Representatives
- The secretary of state
- The comptroller
If the governor's office becomes empty in the first 18 months of their term, a special election is held. This election fills the rest of the term. If the office becomes empty after 18 months, the person who takes over serves the rest of the term. Any partial term counts towards the two-term limit.
Current Governor
Bill Lee, a Republican, is the 50th governor of Tennessee. He took office in 2019, following Bill Haslam. Before becoming governor, Lee was the president of his own company. His main goals have been creating jobs and improving the economy. He has also proposed more money for K-12 education, mental health, and rural development. Lee also plans to add more funds to the state's Rainy day fund.
His first executive orders focused on ethics and transparency. He also asked state departments to report on their impact in rural areas.
History of Governors
Many recent governors have had business backgrounds. Phil Bredesen started a healthcare company. Bill Haslam held many leadership roles and co-owns a baseball team. Current governor Bill Lee was also a company president.
Most governors have at least a bachelor's degree. For example, Bredesen studied physics at Harvard. Haslam earned a history degree from Emory University. Lee studied mechanical engineering at Auburn University.
Political experience is helpful but not always required. Bill Lee had never held public office before becoming governor. Both Bredesen and Haslam served as mayors before becoming governor. Early Tennessee politicians, like Andrew Jackson, sometimes had military experience.
Famous Governors
John Sevier
John Sevier was Tennessee's very first governor. He helped establish the state. He dealt with many challenges that came with creating a new territory. His work still influences Tennessee politics today.
Sam Houston
Sam Houston served as a U.S. Representative for Tennessee. He then became the 6th Governor of Tennessee from 1827 to 1829. After his time as governor, he moved to Texas. He led the Texian Army to victory in the Texas Revolution. Houston was elected the first President of Texas. He later helped Texas join the United States. He then represented Texas in the U.S. Senate. He also became the 7th Governor of Texas. This made him the only person to be governor of two different U.S. states. The city of Houston is named after him.
James K. Polk
James K. Polk was the 11th President of the United States. He served as governor of Tennessee from 1839 to 1841. He was a Democrat. He strongly believed in the values of Jacksonian democracy.
Andrew Johnson
Andrew Johnson became the 17th President of the United States. This happened after Abraham Lincoln's assassination. Johnson was a Democrat. He joined Lincoln's Republicans to form a special ticket in 1864. Johnson was governor of Tennessee from 1853 to 1857. At that time, the Tennessee governor did not have many powers. Johnson used his position to share his ideas.
Ray Blanton
Ray Blanton was governor from 1975 to 1979. He left office a few days early. This was due to actions by leaders of his own party. They wanted to start Lamar Alexander's term early.
Phil Bredesen
Phil Bredesen, a Democrat, was governor from 2003 to 2011. He also served as mayor of Nashville. Bredesen proposed "Cover Tennessee," a healthcare plan. It aimed to help adults buy affordable insurance. It also included "Cover Kids," which helps pregnant women and children from low-income families. He increased the "Rainy Day Fund" and expanded pre-kindergarten programs.
Bill Haslam
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Bill Haslam, a Republican, was governor from 2011 to 2018. He took office during a tough economic time. He focused on helping the economy recover. He also worked to make Tennessee more business-friendly. His biggest impact was in education. He is known for the TN Promise and Reconnect Programs. These programs allow students to attend community college or technical school for free. This helps improve the state's workforce.
Recent Goals
In recent years, governors have focused on the economy, healthcare, and education. Governors like Haslam worked to make the state good for businesses. They used ideas that save money. Even Democrats like Phil Bredesen supported some conservative ideas.
Bredesen's goals included healthcare. He announced Cover Tennessee in 2006. It aimed to help people get affordable insurance. It also helped uninsured children. He also made changes to TennCare, the state's Medicaid program. This helped the state's budget.
Tennessee has seen governors from both Democratic and Republican parties. However, the state is now mostly Republican.
Achievements of Governors
Tennessee governors' achievements often depend on their goals. Since Governor Haslam, there has been a big focus on education. They want to increase the number of students going to technical and community colleges. Bill Lee has continued this goal. He proposed more money for school safety. Both Democratic and Republican governors believe in having a balanced budget.
Governor Sundquist served from 1995 to 2003. He focused on ethics and welfare reforms. He helped create the Families First Act. This act reduced the number of people receiving welfare. Sundquist also created the Department of Children's Services. In his second term, he started the ConnectTn program. This program made Tennessee the first state to offer internet in public libraries and schools.
Phil Bredesen aimed to reduce waste in state government. He also wanted to improve schools. In 2004, he changed TennCare. He increased funding for education. This included money for Pre-K and teacher pay. In 2006, he created Cover Tennessee. This program helped people with existing health conditions. It also expanded care for uninsured children.
The Haslam administration focused on the economy and education. In 2012, Haslam signed a budget to increase construction spending. He also worked to remove certain taxes. His most famous achievements are the Tennessee Promise and Reconnect programs. These programs offer free community college or technical school for Tennesseans. The Reconnect program helps adults return to school. Haslam also introduced the IMPROVE Act in 2017. This act aimed to fund road construction. It changed some taxes to pay for it.
See also
- Lieutenant Governor of Tennessee
- Tennessee Secretary of State
- Comptroller of the Treasury of Tennessee
- Government of Tennessee
- Political party strength in Tennessee
- Elections in Tennessee
