Federal offices
National leadership and Tennessee’s representation in Congress.
Office directoryKnow the job
Know the job
before the name.
Every position now has a plain-language summary and a full guide covering its authority, limits, term, and effect on everyday life.
Browse all
Positions voters choose
State offices
Officials who create, administer, and interpret Tennessee law.
County offices
Officials responsible for county services, courts, records, and public safety.
City offices
Local leaders responsible for city policy, budgets, services, and growth.
Trial courts & legal
Judges and attorneys serving Tennessee’s local judicial system.
Education & local districts
Community-level positions and questions that affect local services.
Power & responsibility
What every position can—and cannot—do
Authority varies by jurisdiction, charter, and type of court. Open a summary here, then use the full guide for term, scope, everyday impact, and an official source.
01President & Vice PresidentFederal · Executive+
The president leads the federal executive branch; the vice president succeeds the president when necessary and serves as president of the Senate.
Core powers
- Enforces federal laws and directs executive agencies
- Signs or vetoes federal legislation
- Serves as commander in chief and conducts foreign policy
- Vice president casts tie-breaking Senate votes
Typical termFour years
Who it servesUnited States
Everyday impact
Federal agencies, national security, executive orders, appointments, and enforcement priorities can affect services and rules nationwide.
02U.S. SenatorFederal · Legislative+
Represents the entire state in the United States Senate.
Core powers
- Votes on federal laws and spending
- Confirms federal judges and senior presidential appointments
- Approves treaties and conducts impeachment trials
Typical termSix years
Who it servesTennessee statewide
Everyday impact
Senators vote on national taxes, spending, healthcare programs, infrastructure, judges, and federal agency leadership.
03U.S. RepresentativeFederal · Legislative+
Represents one congressional district in the U.S. House of Representatives.
Core powers
- Introduces and votes on federal legislation
- Votes on taxes, spending, and the federal budget
- Conducts oversight and may vote to impeach federal officials
Typical termTwo years
Who it servesOne congressional district
Everyday impact
House votes shape federal funding, benefits, regulations, transportation, education, and constituent services.
04GovernorTennessee · Executive+
Leads Tennessee’s executive branch and proposes the state’s overall direction.
Core powers
- Signs or vetoes legislation
- Proposes the state budget
- Appoints commissioners and directs state agencies
- Coordinates emergency response
Typical termFour years
Who it servesTennessee statewide
Everyday impact
The governor influences schools, roads, healthcare programs, public safety, agency services, and the state budget.
05State SenatorTennessee · Legislative+
Represents a Tennessee Senate district in the General Assembly.
Core powers
- Creates and votes on state laws
- Approves the state budget
- Confirms certain gubernatorial appointments
- Represents district concerns before state government
Typical termFour years
Who it servesOne Tennessee Senate district
Everyday impact
State laws and budgets affect schools, roads, courts, taxes, professional rules, and local governments.
06State RepresentativeTennessee · Legislative+
Represents a Tennessee House district in the General Assembly.
Core powers
- Introduces and votes on state legislation
- Votes on the state budget and taxes
- Serves on committees that examine bills
- Can vote to override a governor’s veto
Typical termTwo years
Who it servesOne Tennessee House district
Everyday impact
Representatives decide state laws and funding that reach schools, businesses, healthcare, courts, and local services.
07Supreme Court justiceTennessee · Judicial+
Serves on Tennessee’s highest court and reviews significant questions of state law.
Core powers
- Reviews appeals permitted by law
- Interprets Tennessee statutes and constitution
- Adopts certain court rules
- Oversees parts of the state judicial system
Typical termEight-year retention cycle
Who it servesTennessee statewide
Everyday impact
Decisions can establish controlling interpretations of state law for every Tennessee court.
08Appellate judgeTennessee · Judicial+
Reviews decisions from lower courts on the Court of Appeals or Court of Criminal Appeals.
Core powers
- Reviews trial-court records and legal arguments
- Issues written opinions
- May affirm, reverse, or return cases for additional proceedings
Typical termEight-year retention cycle
Who it servesStatewide court with regional sections
Everyday impact
Appellate decisions guide trial courts and affect how civil and criminal law is applied.
09County MayorCounty · Executive+
Serves as the chief executive officer of county government.
Core powers
- Administers county operations
- Presents budget recommendations
- May appoint department leaders where law allows
- Coordinates with the county commission
Typical termFour years
Who it servesOne county
Everyday impact
County budgets and administration affect emergency services, buildings, roads, records, and local programs.
10County CommissionerCounty · Legislative+
Represents a county district on the county’s legislative body.
Core powers
- Approves the county budget and tax rate
- Adopts resolutions
- Reviews major county spending
- Serves on county committees
Typical termFour years
Who it servesOne county commission district
Everyday impact
Commission votes fund schools, public safety, roads, facilities, and other county services.
11SheriffCounty · Public safety+
Leads the county sheriff’s office and performs duties assigned by Tennessee law and the local government structure.
Core powers
- Operates the county jail where applicable
- Provides courthouse security and serves legal process
- Enforces criminal law within the office’s jurisdiction
- Manages sheriff’s office personnel and budget
Typical termFour years
Who it servesOne county
Everyday impact
The sheriff affects jail operations, court security, service of court papers, and local law enforcement.
12County ClerkCounty · Records and services+
Maintains specified county records and provides licenses, registrations, and other services assigned by law.
Core powers
- Issues marriage licenses
- Processes vehicle title and registration services
- Keeps county commission records in many counties
- Administers other licenses and permits
Typical termFour years
Who it servesOne county
Everyday impact
Residents often use the clerk for vehicle registration, marriage licenses, notary services, and public records.
13TrusteeCounty · Finance+
Acts as the county’s treasurer and collects or distributes funds assigned by law.
Core powers
- Collects county property taxes
- Receives and accounts for county money
- Distributes revenue to authorized funds and governments
- Administers tax-relief processes where assigned
Typical termFour years
Who it servesOne county
Everyday impact
The trustee is the office residents use to pay property taxes and seek eligible tax-relief services.
14Register of DeedsCounty · Property records+
Records and preserves legal documents affecting real property and other instruments assigned by law.
Core powers
- Records deeds, liens, releases, and plats
- Maintains searchable land records
- Collects recording fees and taxes assigned by law
- Protects the integrity of recorded documents
Typical termFour years
Who it servesOne county
Everyday impact
The register’s records are central to buying, selling, financing, and researching real estate.
15Assessor of PropertyCounty · Property valuation+
Identifies, classifies, and appraises taxable property for local tax purposes.
Core powers
- Maintains property records and maps
- Estimates appraised and assessed values
- Conducts periodic reappraisals
- Processes qualifying exemptions and classification changes
Typical termFour years
Who it servesOne county
Everyday impact
Assessed values help determine how a local property-tax rate applies to each property.
16MayorCity · Executive+
Leads a city’s executive branch; exact authority depends on the city charter.
Core powers
- Proposes a local budget
- Directs departments and public services
- May appoint department leaders
- Signs or vetoes local legislation where the charter allows
Typical termVaries by city
Who it servesOne city or metropolitan government
Everyday impact
Mayoral administration shapes transportation, public safety, development, parks, utilities, and neighborhood services.
17Vice MayorCity · Legislative leadership+
Presides over a local legislative body or performs duties assigned by the local charter.
Core powers
- Presides over council or commission meetings
- Maintains meeting order and recognizes speakers
- May vote or break ties where the charter allows
- Performs succession duties assigned by local law
Typical termVaries by city
Who it servesOne city or metropolitan government
Everyday impact
The vice mayor influences how public meetings run and how the local legislative body organizes its work.
18Metro Council memberNashville · Legislative+
Serves on Nashville’s Metropolitan Council as a district or at-large representative.
Core powers
- Passes ordinances and resolutions
- Approves the Metro budget and tax rate
- Reviews zoning and development matters
- Conducts oversight and confirms certain appointments
Typical termFour years
Who it servesNashville-Davidson County district or at large
Everyday impact
Council decisions affect zoning, transit, public safety funding, services, and neighborhood investment.
19City Council memberCity · Legislative+
Represents residents on a city’s legislative and policy-making body.
Core powers
- Adopts ordinances and resolutions
- Approves budgets and local tax rates
- Reviews land use and major contracts
- Provides oversight of city government
Typical termVaries by charter
Who it servesOne city district or citywide seat
Everyday impact
Council votes shape city services, development rules, infrastructure, and spending.
20AldermanCity · Legislative+
An alderman is a city legislative member; the title is used by some municipalities instead of council member or commissioner.
Core powers
- Votes on city ordinances
- Approves budgets and contracts
- Reviews local development and services
- Represents residents in city government
Typical termVaries by charter
Who it servesOne municipality
Everyday impact
Aldermen vote on the same kinds of local issues handled by city councils in other communities.
21Municipal judgeCity · Judicial+
Presides over a municipal court and hears matters within the jurisdiction granted by law or charter.
Core powers
- Hears municipal-code violations
- Rules on evidence and courtroom procedure
- Issues judgments and authorized penalties
- Manages the municipal court docket
Typical termVaries by city
Who it servesOne municipality
Everyday impact
Municipal courts commonly address city-code, traffic, parking, or ordinance cases.
22Circuit Court judgeJudicial district · Trial court+
Presides over a court of general jurisdiction, including civil and criminal matters assigned by Tennessee law.
Core powers
- Conducts trials and hearings
- Rules on evidence and legal motions
- Issues judgments, orders, and authorized sentences
- Manages the court docket
Typical termEight years
Who it servesOne Tennessee judicial district
Everyday impact
Circuit judges decide significant disputes, trials, and criminal proceedings in their districts.
23Chancery Court judgeJudicial district · Trial court+
A chancellor hears equity and civil matters assigned to Tennessee Chancery Courts.
Core powers
- Hears disputes involving property, contracts, estates, and government actions
- Issues injunctions and other equitable relief
- Rules on motions, evidence, and trials
- Issues written orders and judgments
Typical termEight years
Who it servesOne Tennessee judicial district
Everyday impact
Chancery courts handle complex property, business, probate, tax, and government disputes.
24General Sessions judgeCounty · Trial court+
Presides over a high-volume local court with jurisdiction established by Tennessee law.
Core powers
- Hears preliminary criminal matters and misdemeanors
- Hears many civil disputes within statutory limits
- Issues warrants, orders, and judgments
- Conducts hearings involving local legal matters
Typical termEight years
Who it servesOne county or judicial division
Everyday impact
Residents may encounter General Sessions Court for traffic, landlord-tenant, debt, misdemeanor, or preliminary criminal matters.
25District Attorney GeneralJudicial district · Prosecution+
Leads criminal prosecution for the state within a Tennessee judicial district.
Core powers
- Determines whether and how to prosecute supported criminal charges
- Presents cases to grand juries and courts
- Negotiates plea agreements
- Directs assistant prosecutors and victim-support work
Typical termEight years
Who it servesOne Tennessee judicial district
Everyday impact
The office’s charging and prosecution decisions affect victims, defendants, public safety, and court workloads.
26Public DefenderJudicial district · Legal defense+
Leads representation for people who are accused of crimes and qualify for appointed counsel.
Core powers
- Represents eligible clients in criminal proceedings
- Directs assistant public defenders and investigators
- Advises clients about rights and legal options
- Challenges unsupported evidence and unlawful government action
Typical termEight years where elected
Who it servesOne Tennessee judicial district
Everyday impact
The office protects the right to counsel and helps courts reach decisions through an adversarial legal process.
27School Board memberLocal · Education+
Helps govern the local public-school system as a member of an elected board.
Core powers
- Sets district policy
- Approves the school budget
- Selects and evaluates the superintendent
- Reviews curriculum, facilities, and long-range plans
Typical termTypically four years
Who it servesOne local school district seat
Everyday impact
Board decisions affect school leadership, calendars, facilities, student policies, and how education funds are used.
28ConstableCounty district · Law enforcement+
An elected county officer with limited law-enforcement and process-serving duties established by state and local law.
Core powers
- May serve warrants and civil process
- May perform limited peace-officer functions
- Carries out duties authorized for the local office
Typical termFour years
Who it servesA county constable district where the office exists
Everyday impact
Where active, constables may serve court papers or assist with limited local enforcement responsibilities.
29Special district boardLocal · Special purpose+
Governs a public district created for a specific service such as utilities, fire protection, or another local function.
Core powers
- Sets policy for the district
- Approves budgets and service plans
- Oversees district leadership
- May set rates or issue debt where law allows
Typical termVaries by district
Who it servesOne special-service district
Everyday impact
Board decisions may directly affect service quality, rates, facilities, and long-range investments.
30Ballot measureLocal or state · Public question+
A proposal submitted directly to voters rather than a contest between candidates.
Core powers
- May approve or reject a law, charter change, tax, bond, or local action
- Creates the legal result stated in the official ballot language when adopted
Typical termNot an office
Who it servesVaries by measure
Everyday impact
Measures can change local government rules, authorize funding, or decide a specific public policy question.
31Constitutional amendmentTennessee · Public question+
A proposal to change the Tennessee Constitution that has completed the required legislative process and is submitted to voters.
Core powers
- Changes the state constitution if approved under Tennessee’s constitutional requirements
- Can alter the structure, authority, or rights established by the constitution
Typical termNot an office
Who it servesTennessee statewide
Everyday impact
Constitutional amendments can create durable changes that future statutes and government actions must follow.