Tennessee General Assembly facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Tennessee General Assembly |
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|---|---|
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| Type | |
| Type | |
| Houses | Senate House of Representatives |
| Leadership | |
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Speaker of the Senate
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Randy McNally (R)
Since January 9, 2017 |
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Cameron Sexton (R)
Since August 23, 2019 |
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| Structure | |
| Seats | 132 voting members: 33 Senators 99 Representatives |
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Senate political groups
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Republican (28) Democratic (5) |
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House political groups
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Republican (73) Democratic (26) |
| Elections | |
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Senate last election
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November 6, 2018 |
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House last election
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November 6, 2018 |
| Meeting place | |
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| Tennessee State Capitol, Nashville | |
The Tennessee General Assembly (often called the TNGA) is the main law-making group for the U.S. state of Tennessee. Think of it as Tennessee's state government where new laws are discussed and voted on. It's a "bicameral" legislature, which means it has two separate parts: the Senate and the House of Representatives. The person in charge of the Senate is also known as the Lieutenant Governor of Tennessee.
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What is the Tennessee General Assembly?
The Tennessee General Assembly is the official group that creates and passes laws for the state of Tennessee. It's like the state's parliament or congress. This group helps decide how the state is run and what rules everyone needs to follow.
Two Houses of Government
The word "bicameral" means "two chambers." The Tennessee General Assembly has two main parts, or "houses," that work together:
Both houses must agree on a bill for it to become a law. This system helps make sure that laws are carefully considered before they are passed.
The Tennessee Senate
The Senate is the smaller of the two houses. It has 33 members, who are called senators. Each senator represents a specific area, or "district," in Tennessee. Senators serve terms that usually last for four years.
The leader of the Senate is called the Speaker of the Senate. This person is also the Lieutenant Governor of Tennessee. Currently, Randy McNally holds this important role. He helps guide discussions and votes in the Senate.
The Tennessee House of Representatives
The House of Representatives is the larger house, with 99 members. These members are called representatives. Like senators, each representative serves a district in Tennessee. Representatives usually serve terms that last for two years.
The leader of the House of Representatives is called the Speaker of the House. Cameron Sexton is the current Speaker. He makes sure that meetings run smoothly and that all representatives have a chance to speak.
Who Makes Up the General Assembly?
In total, there are 132 voting members in the Tennessee General Assembly. This includes the 33 senators and 99 representatives. These members are elected by the people of Tennessee to represent their interests.
Most members of the General Assembly belong to one of two main political parties:
- The Republican Party
- The Democratic Party
In the Senate, there are 28 Republican members and 5 Democratic members. In the House of Representatives, there are 73 Republican members and 26 Democratic members.
Where Do They Meet?
The Tennessee General Assembly meets in the Tennessee State Capitol building. This historic building is located in Nashville, the state capital. It's where all the important discussions and votes happen.
You can learn more about the Tennessee General Assembly by visiting their official website: www.capitol.tn.gov.
