Lesson 5 of 5
Contacting and Petitioning Your Officials in Tennessee
Instructing your representatives, testifying, and how the Tennessee Constitution is amended.
The text
That the citizens have a right, in a peaceable manner, to assemble together for their common good, to instruct their representatives, and to apply to those invested with the powers of government for redress of grievances, or other proper purposes, by address or remonstrance.
That all power is inherent in the people, and all free governments are founded on their authority, and instituted for their peace, safety, and happiness; for the advancement of those ends they have at all times, an unalienable and indefeasible right to alter, reform, or abolish the government in such manner as they may think proper.
Any amendment or amendments to this Constitution may be proposed in the Senate or House of Representatives, and if the same shall be agreed to by a majority of all the members elected to each of the two Houses, such proposed amendment or amendments shall be entered on their Journals with the yeas and nays thereon, and referred to the General Assembly then next to be chosen; and shall be published six months previous to the time of making such choice; and if in the General Assembly then next chosen as aforesaid, such proposed amendment or amendments shall be agreed to by two-thirds of all the members elected to each House, then it shall be the duty of the General Assembly to submit such proposed amendment or amendments to the people, at the next general election in which a Governor is to be chosen. And if the people shall approve and ratify such amendment or amendments by a majority of all the citizens of the State voting for Governor, voting in their favor, such amendment or amendments shall become a part of this Constitution. When any amendment or amendments to the Constitution shall be proposed in pursuance of the foregoing provisions the same shall at each of said sessions be read three times on three several days in each House.
The Legislature shall have the right by law to submit to the people, at any general election, the question of calling a convention to alter, reform, or abolish this Constitution, or to alter, reform or abolish any specified part or parts of it; and when, upon such submission, a majority of all the voters voting upon the proposal submitted shall approve the proposal to call a convention, the delegates to such convention shall be chosen at the next general election and the convention shall assemble for the consideration of such proposals as shall have received a favorable vote in said election, in such mode and manner as shall be prescribed. No change in, or amendment to, this Constitution proposed by such convention shall become effective, unless within the limitations of the call of the convention, and unless approved and ratified by a majority of the qualified voters voting separately on such change or amendment at an election to be held in such manner and on such date as may be fixed by the convention. No such convention shall be held oftener than once in six years.
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
Your right to instruct
Article I, Section 23: "the citizens have a right, in a peaceable manner, to assemble together for their common good, to instruct their representatives, and to apply to those invested with the powers of government for redress of grievances, or other proper purposes, by address or remonstrance." "Instruct" is a strong word: in the founding era, voters and town meetings sent formal instructions to their representatives. Your representative works for you.
How to make your voice count
- Know who represents you. Every Tennessean has one state senator (33 districts) and one state representative (99 districts), plus a U.S. Representative and two U.S. Senators. Christian Vote USA's "My Officials" page finds them from your address.
- Contact them early. Most bills live or die in committee. Call or email before the committee vote and say which bill (by number), what you want, and that you are a constituent.
- Be specific and respectful. A short personal message about how the bill affects you is worth more than a form letter.
- Testify or attend. Tennessee General Assembly committees meet in the Cordell Hull Building in Nashville, and meetings are streamed on the General Assembly's live video page. Public testimony is not automatic, so contact the committee's office well in advance to ask how to request time to speak.
- Follow up. Check the recorded vote and thank, or hold accountable, your legislators.
No statewide initiative
Unlike Colorado, Tennessee has no statewide citizen initiative or referendum. Statewide laws are made only by the General Assembly. Some cities and counties allow local petitions and referendums under their charters or state law.
Amending the Tennessee Constitution
Article XI, Section 3 provides two paths:
- Legislative proposal: A majority of all members of each house approves an amendment in one General Assembly; the amendment is published six months before the election of the next General Assembly, which then approves it again by two-thirds of all the members elected to each house; then voters decide at the next election for Governor. It passes only if it wins "a majority of all the citizens of the State voting for Governor." This is how voters added Article I, Section 36 (2014) and changed Section 33 (2022).
- Convention: The legislature may ask voters whether to call a convention; any changes it proposes must then be ratified by the voters. No convention may be held more often than once in six years.
This high bar protects the constitution from passing fads, and means the most effective place to start is with your legislators.
Check your understanding
This lesson is educational and is not legal advice. Laws and procedures change; confirm current rules with the official sources linked above.