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SJR 123 - Requires Election of Attorney General Position - Tennessee Key Vote

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Title: Requires Election of Attorney General Position

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a joint resolution that submits a constitutional amendment to the voters that requires the general election of the attorney general.

Highlights:

  • Requires the position of attorney general to be popularly elected beginning with the November 2020 general election and every 4 years thereafter, whereas existing law requires the Tennessee Supreme Court to fill a vacancy for an 8 year term.
  • Prohibits an individual from being eligible for election as attorney general for more than 2 consecutive terms, including a partial term election.
  • Requires the attorney general to be at least 30 years of age, and requires the attorney general to be a citizen of the state for at least 7 years immediately preceding the election.  
  • Specifies that the Court shall fill a vacancy in the office of attorney general until the November 2020 general election.

NOTE: THIS BILL REQUIRES A CONSTITUTIONAL MAJORITY OF 17 VOTES IN THE SENATE AND 50 VOTES IN THE HOUSE TO PASS.

Full Bill Text

NOTE: AN AMENDMENT TO THE CONSTITUTION IS A THREE-STEP PROCESS. FIRST, IT REQUIRES APPROVAL OF A SIMPLE MAJORITY IN BOTH THE HOUSE AND SENATE. SECOND, IT REQUIRES TWO-THIRDS APPROVAL BY THE NEXT GENERAL ASSEMBLY FOLLOWING AN ELECTION YEAR, AND THIRD APPROVAL BY THE VOTERS DURING A GUBERNATORIAL ELECTION. THE GOVERNOR CAN VETO THE JOINT RESOLUTION DURING ANY YEAR THE LEGISLATURE PASSES AN AMENDMENT TO THE CONSTITUTION.

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