What changes do Tennessee leaders want to make to our most important governing document?
Tennessee votes today for governor, congressional seats, constitutional amendments and state legislature
The top race on the ballot is for governor: Republican incumbent Bill Lee faces Jason Martin, a Democratic doctor. Tennesseans are also voting on the state’s nine seats in the U.S. House of Representatives.
What each state constitutional amendment means on the Nov. 8 ballot
On Nov. 8, Tennessee voters will have the chance to alter the state constitution. The four amendments on the ballot are verbose, but on Thursday’s episode of This Is Nashville, WPLN reporters Alexis Marshall, Blake Farmer and Paige Pfleger broke down the choices voters are facing. Here’s a quick summary of each amendment.
Amendment 4 asks Tennessee voters to strike the ban on ministers serving in the legislature, but not the ban on atheists
Update: Amendment 4 was passed by Tennessee voters, so the language of the state’s constitution will be updated accordingly. Find all of WPLN’s live Election Day coverage here. A violation of the Tennessee Constitution is pretty easy to spot at Nashville’s Lee Chapel AME any given Sunday.
Slavery is still allowed as a punishment for crime in Tennessee’s constitution. Amendment 3 seeks to change that.
Update: Amendment 3 was passed by Tennessee voters, so the language of the state’s constitution will be updated accordingly. Find all of WPLN’s live Election Day coverage here. The inspiration for Amendment 3 came about a decade ago, behind the bars and barbed wire of Riverbend Maximum Security Prison.
What happens when the governor is unable to fulfill his duties? Constitutional Amendment 2 will ask voters to clarify line of succession.
Ballot Amendment 2 asks Tennesseans if the lieutenant governor should take over if the governor is temporarily sick or unable to perform his or her duties.
Amendment 1 would put Tennessee’s ‘right-to-work’ law in the constitution. Here’s what that means.
What “right-to-work” means, and who’s for and against the amendment.
A Rare Chance To View Tennessee’s Three Constitutions, Including Short-Lived Rules After The Civil War
Tennessee’s three constitutions will be available for public view at the new State Library and Archives building on June 1 to celebrate the state’s 225th birthday. It’s a rare opportunity to see the documents, which are usually kept in vaults for preservation.
Tennessee Lawmakers Adjourn After Resolving Impasse Over TNReady
Tennessee lawmakers wrapped up business Wednesday night, after an arduous final day at the state Capitol dominated by a standoff over TNReady and a dispute over a constitutional amendment. The House of Representatives and the state Senate spent most of the day locked in a bitter dispute over whether teachers are really going to be […]
State Constitutions on Rare Display
Tennessee’s original, handwritten Constitutions will be exhibited later this week to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the state’s Supreme Court Building.
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