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The Government of Tennessee is organized under the provisions of the 1870 Constitution of Tennessee, first adopted in 1796[1]. As set forth by the state constitution, Tennessee's government is divided into three branches: executive, judicial, and legislative branches. The seat of the government in Tennessee is in its capital city of Nashville.

Executive Branch
The executive branch at the state level gives the governor “supreme executive power” over the state. This means the governor and the executive branch agencies are given the power to administer laws, mandates, and new programs that have been created by the General Assembly. With more than 39,000 people employed in twenty-two cabinet-level positions and other agencies, the executive branch provides several citizens of the state.

Governor
As set by the Constitution, Tennessee's governor is the Supreme Executive Power. He or she (currently Governor Bill Lee ) is responsible for enforcing state laws and the state constitution. He is also known as the keeper of the Great Seal of the State of Tennessee.

Lieutenant Governor
The current Lieutenant Governor is Randy McNally. He was elected on January 10, 2017 and is the second, consecutive Republican to hold the office.

Cabinet Members
Lang Wiseman - Deputy to the Governor and Chief Counsel

Blake Harris - Chief of Staff in the Governor's Office

Butch Eley - Chief Operating Officer in the Governor's Office

Chris Devaney - Special Assistant to the Governor

Brandon Gibson - Senior Advisor in the Governor's Office

Chris Walker - Communications Director and Senior Advisor in the Governor's Office

Tony Niknejad - Policy Director

Charlie Hatcher - Commissioner of Agriculture

Jennifer Nichols - Commissioner of Children's Services

Julie Mix McPeak - Commissioner of Commerce & Insurance

Tony C. Parker - Commissioner of Correction

Brad Turner - Commissioner of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities

Bob Rolfe - Commissioner of Department of Economic and Community Development

Penny Schwinn - Commissioner of Education

David Salyers - Commissioner of Environment and Conservation

Stuart McWhorter - Commissioner of Finance & Administration

Greg Gonzales - Commissioner of Financial Institutions

Christi Branscom - Commissioner of General Services

Lisa Piercey - Commissioner of Health

Juan Williams - Commissioner of Human Resources

Danielle Barnes - Commissioner of Human Services

Jeff McCord - Commissioner of Labor and Workforce

Marie Williams - Commissioner of Mental Health

Jeff Holmes - Commissioner of the Military

David Gerregano - Commissioner of Revenue

Jeff Long - Commissioner of Safety and Homeland Security

Gabe Roberts - Director of TennCare

Mark Ezell - Commissioner of Tourism

Clay Bright - Commissioner of Transportation

Courtney Rogers - Commissioner of Veterans

Judicial Branch
The judicial branch is one of the three basic divisions of state government. This branch has the power of judicial review, meaning that it must determine the constitutionality of laws passed by the General Assembly and consider the legality of policies and regulations. This branch checks the power of the legislative and executive branch. In Tennessee specifically, the Judicial system is acquired from the state constitution: “The judicial power of this state shall be vested in one Supreme Court and in such Circuit, Chancery and other Inferior Courts as the Legislature shall from time to time, ordain and establish..” (Article VI, Section 1, Constitution of the State of Tennessee).

=== Supreme Court === The Supreme Court of Tennessee is the highest court in the state, and it is known as the “Court of Last Resort.” The court's workload mainly consists of cases appealed from lower state courts. The Supreme Court is composed of a chief justice (currently Jeffrey S. Bivins) and four associate justices (currently Holly Kirby, Cornelia Clark, Sharon Lee, and Roger Page). Article VI, Section 3 of the Tennessee Constitution now states, in part, “Judges of the Supreme Court or any intermediate appellate court shall be appointed for a full term or to fill a vacancy by and at the discretion of the governor; shall be confirmed by the Legislature; and thereafter, shall be elected in a retention election by the qualified voters of the state.” As required by the Tennessee Constitution, the Supreme Court regularly meets in Jackson, Knoxville, and Nashville. In addition to the regular meetings of the Supreme Court, the Court takes their oral arguments on the road as part of the SCALES program (Supreme Court Advancing Legal Education for Students) a few times each year.

Intermediate Appellate Courts
The intermediate appellate courts of Tennessee include the court of appeals and the court of criminal appeals. The court of appeals hears cases appealed from probate, chancery, and circuit courts, whereas the court of criminal appeals hears cases appealed from circuit and criminal courts.

Trial Courts
Trial courts in the state of Tennessee include probate courts, chancery courts, circuit courts, and criminal courts. The judges of the these courts are chosen by popular election within the corresponding judicial district.

Courts of Limited Jurisdiction
The courts of limited jurisdiction include juvenile courts, general sessions courts, and municipal courts which are funded by their corresponding county.

Legislative Branch
The legislative branch is a bicameral legislature that is made up of a General Assembly with a Senate and a House of Representatives. The legislative branch is responsible for making state laws. Tennessee’s legislative branch was established at the Assembly’s first meeting in Knoxville during the winter of 1796. Members of the Assembly are elected by popular vote. The legislators make laws as a part time job, and they live in their district so that they are familiar with the local issues.

Senate
The Senate is the upper house of Tennessee's General Assembly, and it consists of thirty-three senators that represent their corresponding senatorial district. Each senator is elected to a four year term. The leader/speaker of the Senate is also the state's lieutenant governor. The Senate is given the power to try impeachment proceedings initiated by the House. Any officer of the state may be impeached, but two-thirds of the Senate must concur for removal from office.

House of Representatives
The House of Representatives is the lower house of the bicameral legislature. There are ninety-nine representatives that are elected from their corresponding House district. Representatives serve two-year terms, and the qualifications for election to the House are acquired by the Tennessee state constitution which states. To become a representative you must be twenty-one, have lived in Tennessee for at least three years, and have lived in the house district for a minimum of one year. The house of the representatives has certain non-lawmaking powers that differentiate it from the senate such as the power to start impeachment against public officials. In the case of impeachment the officials are brought in front of the senate for trial and three members of the house are elected  to prosecute the case.