Tennessee

Tennessee has a Constitutional Amendment from 1978 that limits the growth of appropriations to personal income growth.

ARTICLE II - Distribution of Powers

Section 24. No public money shall be expended except pursuant to appropriations made by law. Expenditures for any fiscal year shall not exceed the state’s revenues and reserves, including the proceeds of any debt obligation, for that year. No debt obligation, except as shall be repaid within the fiscal year of issuance, shall be authorized for the current operation of any state service or program, nor shall the proceeds of any debt obligation be expended for a purpose other than that for which it was authorized.

In no year shall the rate of growth of appropriations from state tax revenues exceed the estimated rate of growth of the state’s economy as determined by law. No appropriation in excess of this limitation shall be made unless the General Assembly shall, by law containing no other subject matter, set forth the dollar amount and the rate by which the limit will be exceeded.

Any law requiring the expenditure of state funds shall be null and void unless, during the session in which the act receives final passage, an appropriation is made for the estimated first year’s funding.

No law of general application shall impose increased expenditure requirements on cities or counties unless the General Assembly shall provide that the state share in the cost.

An accurate financial statement of the state’s fiscal condition shall be published annually.

-- THE CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE

Tennessee’s Constitution limits the state’s Governor to two consecutive terms. A person can 

run for that office again after sitting out one term.

ARTICLE III - Executive Department.

Section 4. The governor shall be elected to hold office for four years and until a
successor is elected and qualified. A person may be eligible to succeed in office for
additional four year terms, provided that no person presently serving or elected
hereafter shall be eligible for election to more than two terms consecutively, including
an election to a partial term.
One succeeding to the office vacated during the first eighteen calendar months
of the term shall hold office until a successor is elected for the remainder of the
term at the next election of members of the General Assembly and qualified pursuant
to this Constitution. One succeeding to the office vacated after the first eighteen
calendar months of the term shall continue to hold office for the remainder of
the full term.

-- THE CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE

Created by: Jennifer L. Crull

Return to Public Interest Institute's Limitations on Government by States Homepage

Return to Public Interest Institute's Limitations on Government by Issues Homepage