Know the role. Understand the power.

Federal

U.S. Representative

One of 435 members of the U.S. House. Every House member faces voters every two years — the shortest term in federal government. Represents one district, not the whole state.

2 years · One of Tennessee's 9 congressional districts

Federal

U.S. Senator

One of 100 people who write federal law, confirm federal judges, and vote on treaties. A U.S. senator represents all of Tennessee — not a district.

6 years · The entire state of Tennessee

State

Governor of Tennessee

The Governor runs the executive branch of Tennessee state government — the departments that handle education, health, transportation, corrections, and more. It is the most powerful single office in Tennessee.

4 years · Statewide

State

Tennessee State Representative

One of 99 people who write Tennessee's laws. Every seat, every two years — the most frequently elected office in Tennessee state government.

2 years · One of 99 state House districts

State

Tennessee State Senator

One of 33 people who write Tennessee's laws, set the state budget, and levy state taxes.

4 years, staggered · One of 33 state Senate districts

County

Circuit Court Clerk

Keeps the records of the courts. Manages case files, collects court costs, issues documents, and maintains the official record of what happened in court.

4 years (TN Const. Art. VI §13) · Circuit court in one county

County

County Clerk

Handles vehicle titles and registrations, business licenses, marriage licenses, and official county records.

4 years · One county

County

County Commissioner

The county's legislative body. THIS is the office that sets your county property tax rate and adopts the county budget.

4 years · One county commission district

County

County Trustee

The county's banker. Collects property taxes and holds the county's money.

4 years · One county

County

Criminal Court Clerk

The Criminal Court Clerk keeps and manages the official records of the criminal courts in Davidson County. The office maintains case files and dockets, processes court fees, provides criminal background checks and expungement requests, and gives the public access to court records. It handles the paperwork and records of the court — it does not decide cases, set bail, or prosecute.

4 years (TN Const. Art. VI §13) · Criminal court in one judicial district

County

Juvenile Court Clerk

Keeps the records of the courts. Manages case files, collects court costs, issues documents, and maintains the official record of what happened in court.

4 years (TN Const. Art. VI §13) · Juvenile court in one county

County

Register of Deeds

The Register of Deeds is a constitutional office established under Tennessee law as the custodian of legal documents relating to real property. The office records and permanently preserves deeds, deeds of trust, liens, powers of attorney, plats, and other property documents required by state law. Because buying property is often the largest investment a person makes, the accuracy of these records matters — but the office records documents; it does not decide who owns property or what property is worth.

4 years · One county

County

School Board Member

Oversees the public school system. Selects and evaluates the director of schools, approves the school system budget, sets district policy, and makes decisions about facilities.

Varies by county — verify locally · One school board district

County

Sheriff

The county's chief law enforcement officer. Patrols, investigates crimes, serves warrants and civil process, RUNS THE COUNTY JAIL, and provides court security.

4 years · One county

Municipal

Metro Council Member

The Metropolitan Council is the legislative body of Nashville and Davidson County — the nation's first fully consolidated city-county government, established in 1963. Because city and county are combined here, the Council does the work that a city council and a county commission would do separately elsewhere. It passes local laws, adopts the Metro budget, and makes zoning decisions. It has 40 members: 35 elected by district and 5 elected at-large. The Vice Mayor presides over the Council.

4 years · Nashville and Davidson County. The Council has 35 district members (each representing one district) and 5 at-large members (elected countywide).

Municipal

Metropolitan Mayor

The Mayor is the chief executive of the Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County. Because Nashville has a consolidated city-county government, the Mayor holds the executive authority that a city mayor and a county executive would hold separately elsewhere. The Mayor proposes the Metro budget, directs Metro departments and agencies, and leads on citywide priorities such as transportation, housing, economic development, and public safety administration.

4 years · All of Nashville and Davidson County

Judicial

District Attorney General

The elected prosecutor for a judicial district. Decides WHICH cases to charge, what to charge them as, what plea deals to offer, and which cases to drop.

8 years · One judicial district

Judicial

Judicial Retention (appellate)

A retention election is not a race. There is no opponent. You answer one question: should this judge stay?

8 years · Statewide (Tennessee Supreme Court, 5 justices)

Judicial

Public Defender

The elected chief defense attorney for people who cannot afford a lawyer. Leads the office that represents indigent defendants.

8 years (where elected) · One judicial district

Party

State Executive Committee

These are the governing bodies of the Republican and Democratic parties in Tennessee. They are NOT part of state government.

Generally one committeeman and one committeewoman per state Senate district