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115-546: The governor of Tennessee is the head of government of the U.S. state of Tennessee and the commander-in-chief of the state's military forces . The governor is the only official in the Tennessee state government who is directly elected by the voters of the entire state. The current governor is Bill Lee , a member of the Republican Party , who took office on January 19, 2019, as the state's 50th governor. He
230-552: A bathroom bill that prohibited transgender people from accessing public school bathrooms that correspond to their gender identity. In May 2021, Lee signed legislation requiring businesses that serve transgender customers equally with restrooms to display warning signs that they do so. LGBT activists, Democrats, and some Republicans criticized the bill as an attempt to shame and harm businesses. Many businesses and business leaders threatened to leave Tennessee in protest of these bills. The American Civil Liberties Union sued to stop
345-481: A powderpuff game went viral on social media platform Reddit . The 1977 high school yearbook photo shows Lee dressed as a female cheerleader, wearing a wig and pearl necklace. Lee signed the anti-drag bill into law on March 2, 2023. In June 2023, a federal court blocked the law as unconstitutional under the First Amendment . The Tennessee attorney general has appealed the decision. In 2024, Lee signed
460-511: A school voucher bill that created a program to provide public funds to families for private school tuition and costs, starting in the 2020–21 fiscal year, but a judge ruled the program unconstitutional in May 2020, before it could go into effect. Of $ 64 million in discretionary COVID-19 relief funding for education that went to his office, Lee sent $ 10 million to charter schools, including $ 4.4 million to launch new charters. In July 2019, Lee signed
575-401: A sovereign state , a federated state , or a self-governing colony , autonomous region , or other government who often presides over a cabinet , a group of ministers or secretaries who lead executive departments. In diplomacy , "head of government" is differentiated from " head of state ". The authority of a head of government, such as a president, chancellor, or prime minister, and
690-496: A "limited continuing state of emergency" through 2020 and 2021 to facilitate the state's eligibility for federal economic aid, and allowed the Tennessee National Guard and Tennessee State Guard to continue to assist with COVID-19 response efforts. In March 2020, as the number of COVID-19 cases grew, Lee urged school districts to close through March to prevent the further spread of the disease. In April, as
805-536: A 2020 trip to the Tri-Cities , Lee was met with protests from opponents of refugee resettlement. Lee supports capital punishment , and Tennessee has executed seven people since resuming executions in 2018. One notable person executed under Lee is Nicholas Todd Sutton . He was sentenced to life after taking 3 lives from 1979 to 1980. While in prison, he saved one corrections officer's life, protected two others, and converted to Christianity. In 1986, Sutton took
920-442: A Confederate military uniform at the fraternity's " Old South " party. In 2019, after his attendance came to light, Lee expressed regret for his participation: "I never intentionally acted in an insensitive way, but with the benefit of hindsight, I can see that participating in that was insensitive and I've come to regret it." Lee was named president and CEO of his family's home services and construction company, Lee Company, holding
1035-449: A bachelor's in mechanical engineering from Auburn University . Though political experience is helpful for running for governor, it has never been a requirement. Bill Lee, for example, prior to his governorship never held office. Bredesen and Haslam were both mayors: Bredesen as mayor of Nashville from 1991 to 1999 and Haslam as mayor of Knoxville from 2003 to 2010. Early Tennessean politicians such as Andrew Jackson sometimes had
1150-692: A background check or required training. It also increased the penalty for unlawful use of a firearm and obtaining an illegal firearm. The bill, which Lee also supported the previous year, was supported by the National Rifle Association of America and opposed by law enforcement organizations, such as police chiefs, sheriffs and prosecutors. After the Covenant School shooting in Nashville on March 27, 2023, Lee did not initially call for any gun control , saying: "There will come
1265-491: A bill into law that calls for school districts across the state to establish threat assessment teams to address potential threats to school safety. In February 2020, Lee proposed a $ 117 million investment to increase teacher salaries and a $ 250 million endowment to address mental health in K-12 education. In July 2019, Lee signed an order proclaiming Nathan Bedford Forrest Day, as required by Tennessee law, celebrating Forrest,
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#17327729131861380-618: A bill that assures continued taxpayer funding of faith-based adoption agencies that exclude LGBT people for religious reasons; and the Adult Entertainment Act , which banned drag shows in public. William Byron Lee was born on October 9, 1959. He was raised on his family's 1,000-acre (400 ha) cattle farm started by his grandparents in Franklin, Tennessee , the Triple L Ranch; the family raises Hereford cattle . Lee
1495-410: A bill that assures continued taxpayer funding of faith-based foster care and adoption agencies that exclude LGBT families and others based on religious beliefs. Nike and Amazon released statements opposing the bill. Lee signed legislation banning transgender athletes from participating in sports opposite to their biological sex, making Tennessee the third state to do so. In May 2021, he signed
1610-499: A broader sense, a head of government can be used loosely when referring to various comparable positions under a dominant head of state (especially is the case of ancient or feudal eras, so the term "head of government", in this case, could be considered a contradiction in terms). In this case, the prime minister serves at the pleasure of the monarch and holds no more power than the monarch allows. Some such titles are diwan, mahamantri , pradhan , wasir or vizier . However, just because
1725-519: A cigarette tax, the increase would amount to $ 343 million for education. The Haslam administration focused heavily on improving the economy and education in Tennessee. In 2012 Haslam signed a budget to increase construction spending by $ 560 million and eliminate the inheritance and gift tax. The bill also included a plan called "Fast Track", which aimed to provide incentives for companies to move to Tennessee. Haslam 's most well-known accomplishment
1840-530: A famous Confederate general and the first Grand Wizard of the white supremacist group the Ku Klux Klan . The legislature repealed this requirement in June 2020. In December 2019, Lee proclaimed December 1 Rosa Parks Day, to commemorate the start of the 1955 Montgomery bus boycott . In May 2020, after Minneapolis police murdered George Floyd , Lee condemned the officers involved, saying, " police brutality
1955-422: A head of government is Prime Minister . This is used as a formal title in many states, but may also be an informal generic term to refer to whichever office is considered the principal minister under an otherwise styled head of state , as minister — Latin for servants or subordinates—is a common title for members of a government (but many other titles are in use, e.g. chancellor and secretary of state). Formally
2070-547: A heavy focus on the economy, health care, and education. Governors such as Haslam focused on making the state business friendly as much as possible, using fiscally conservative ideas when making policy. Conservatism has not been limited to Republicans however, as Phil Bredesen, a Democrat, supported the death penalty. There have been successful achievements that are not traditionally seen as conservative, namely TN Promise and Reconnect. Bredesen's focuses included healthcare. He announced Cover Tennessee in 2006 as "a partnership between
2185-575: A history of military service, with Jackson serving in the Revolutionary War and the War of 1812 . John Sevier was the first governor of Tennessee. He effectively founded the state and because it was new territory, he dealt with many issues that come along with founding a state. Though much of his work regards to his time in the frontier, his effects on Tennessean politics are still felt today. Biographer Carl S. Driver opined in 1932 that "Most of
2300-456: A judicial nomination commission before being appointed. After their initial term, judges are required to run in a retention election to determine if they will serve another term in the courts. The Tennessee Governor's Cabinet is made up of seven key staff members and 23 Executive Departments. Key staff members include Chief Operating Manager, Chief of Staff, Special Assistant, Senior Adviser, Communications Director, Policy Director, and Deputy to
2415-499: A law allowing public officials to refuse to marry couples "for reasons of conscience or other religious beliefs", including same-sex couples. As a candidate for governor, Lee opposed medical marijuana legislation and marijuana decriminalization . As governor, he continued to oppose marijuana decriminalization, saying in 2019, "I have said before and still believe that we should not decriminalize marijuana... I think that's not good for our state." An opponent of legalized gambling in
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#17327729131862530-530: A long shot, Lee rose in the polls as Boyd and Black launched negative advertising against each other. He won the August 2 primary with 291,414 votes (36.8%) to Boyd's 193,054 (24.3%), Black's 182,457 (23.0%), and Harwell's 121,484 (15.3%). Lee defeated former Democratic Nashville mayor Karl Dean in the November 6 general election, receiving 1,336,106 votes (59.6%) to Dean's 864,863 (38.6%). This marked
2645-549: A new website where Tennesseans can apply to work in the administration and check on policy issues called Bill Lee Transition Article III Section 11 of the Tennessee Constitution provides that the governor shall, "from time to time, give to the General Assembly information of the state of the government, and recommend for their consideration such measures as he shall judge expedient." The State of
2760-405: A presidential level since 1972 . Voter turnout for the 2022 midterm elections in Tennessee was the lowest it has been in nearly a decade, with only 38.57% of Tennessee's registered voters turning out. The last time turnout was this low in Tennessee was in the 2014 midterm elections . This turnout was far below the 2020 presidential election in Tennessee, which saw a turnout of 68.6%. Lee
2875-693: A role in the creation of the Tennessee Regulatory Authority and the Families First Act. Replacing the previous Public Service Commission, the Families First Act dropped the number of welfare recipients from 70,000 to 30,000 in an effort to reduce state expenditures. Sundquist also created the Department of Children's Services in 1996. In his second term Sundquist created the ConnectTn program which made Tennessee
2990-404: A special session of the General Assembly to be held on August 21 to focus on public safety in response to the shooting. After Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg died on September 18, 2020, several weeks before the presidential election , Lee supported Trump's nomination of Amy Coney Barrett to fill the vacant seat, citing his position on abortion. After Joe Biden defeated Trump in
3105-452: A state of emergency as Hurricane Helene approached the state from the Gulf of Mexico with torrential rain, flash floods, high winds, and tornadoes. Instead, while catastrophic flooding was occurring in his state, he proclaimed September 27 a "voluntary day of prayer and fasting". Eventually Lee was persuaded to ask for a declaration and the federal assistance that would ensue. Once he requested
3220-410: A statewide public health emergency"; ended local authority on mask mandates in 89 counties; and called for remaining local restrictions to be lifted. As the highly contagious Delta variant spread in Tennessee, Lee said that he had "no real concern" over it. COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations surged in Tennessee from July to August 2021. Tennessee's COVID-19 vaccination rate was among the lowest in
3335-439: A threat to themselves or to others shouldn't have access to weapons." In the wake of the scandals around the 2023 Tennessee House of Representatives expulsions , which occurred after protests in favor of gun control, Lee signed an executive order on April 11 strengthening background checks for gun purchases and also called for the state legislature to pass an "order of protection law". On August 8, 2023, Lee officially called for
3450-493: A time to discuss and debate policy. But this is not a time for hate or rage. That will not resolve or heal." Lee said that his wife Maria was close friends with two of the shooting victims and one of them, Cindy Peak, had been expected for dinner at the governor's mansion on the day of the shooting. Four days after the shooting, with large protests in the state calling for reforms, Lee declined to say whether he would support gun control measures but did say that "individuals who are
3565-484: A whole host of reasons, including their race, religion or national origin". In December 2019, after President Trump allowed states to halt refugee resettlement in their states, Lee declined the offer and announced that Tennessee would continue to accept refugees. Lee's decision was opposed by Lieutenant Governor Randy McNally and Speaker of the Tennessee House of Representatives Cameron Sexton . During
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3680-539: Is a seventh-generation Tennessean. After graduating from Franklin High School in his hometown, Lee entered Auburn University in 1977 and graduated in 1981 with a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering . In college, Lee was a member of the Kappa Alpha Order , a fraternity known at the time for its use of Confederate imagery, and a photo printed in the university's 1980 yearbook shows Lee in
3795-758: Is alleged that the increased personalisation of leadership in a number of states has led to heads of government becoming themselves "semi-presidential" figures, due in part to media coverage of politics that focuses on the leader and his or her mandate, rather than on parliament; and to the increasing centralisation of power in the hands of the head of government. Such allegations have been made against three former British Prime ministers: Margaret Thatcher , Tony Blair , and Boris Johnson . They were also made against Italian prime ministers Silvio Berlusconi and Matteo Renzi , Canadian prime minister Pierre Trudeau and Federal Chancellor of West Germany (later all of Germany), Helmut Kohl , when in power. The head of government
3910-589: Is in education. He is most well known for the TN Promise and Reconnect Programs, which allow students to attend a community college for two years with free tuition. This was done to make Tennessee more attractive to businesses and improve the workforce. Additionally, from 2017 to 2018, Haslam served as the chair of the Republican Governors' Association , working to elect Republicans in the 2018 gubernatorial elections . In recent years there has been
4025-546: Is not law enforcement". On May 30, 2020, an "I will breathe" protest was held in Nashville in protest of Floyd's murder, during which a man set fire to the Davidson County Courthouse ; the building was not severely damaged. In response, Lee mobilized the National Guard in Nashville, saying the protests had taken "a violent, unlawful turn". In August 2020, Lee signed into law a bill increasing
4140-466: Is often provided with an official residence , often in the same fashion as heads of state often are. The name of the residence is often used as a metonym or alternative title for 'the government' when the office is politically the highest, e.g. in the UK "Downing Street announced today…" Well-known official residences of heads of government include: Similarly, heads of government of federal entities below
4255-547: Is the Tennessee Promise and Reconnect programs. Tennessee Promise gives Tennesseans the opportunity of two free years of community college or technical school. The Reconnect program provides incentives for adults to return for post-secondary degrees. In 2012, Haslam introduced the T.E.A.M. Act in an attempt to improve state employee performance. The bill would change hiring and advancements policy to prioritize job performance over seniority. In 2017, Haslam introduced
4370-447: Is the only state official to be elected statewide. The Tennessee Constitution provides that "The supreme executive power of this state shall be vested in a governor." Most state department heads and some members of boards and commissions are appointed by the governor. The governor is the commander-in-chief of the state's National Guard and the state militia , except when they have been called into federal service. The governor chairs
4485-556: Is the present French government, which originated as the French Fifth Republic in 1958. In France, the president , the head of state, appoints the prime minister , who is the head of government. However, the president must choose someone who can act effectively as an executive, but who also enjoys the support of France's legislature, the National Assembly , to be able to pass legislation. In some cases,
4600-406: The 2020 presidential election , Lee was one of many Republican officials nationwide who refused to acknowledge Biden's victory amid Trump's false claims of fraud . Biden won a clear victory in both the popular and the electoral vote, but Lee refused to recognize Biden as president-elect even after the election had been called, after the presidential transition had formally begun, and after
4715-782: The Tennessee Board of Regents , the University of Tennessee's Board of Trustees, and holds seats on the State Funding Board, State Building Commission, Board of Equalization, Tennessee Local Development Authority, School Bond Authority, and Tennessee Industrial and Agricultural Development Commission. The Constitution grants the governor the power to veto laws passed by the Tennessee General Assembly , as well as line-item veto authority for individual spending items included in bills passed by
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4830-888: The YMCA of Middle Tennessee, president of the Associated Builders and Contractors , and a board member of the Hope Clinic for Women and the Men of Valor Prison Ministry . In April 2017, Lee announced his candidacy in the 2018 election for governor of Tennessee . A self-described social conservative , he also targeted pro-business Republicans. In the Republican primary election , Lee faced Congresswoman Diane Black , Knoxville businessman and former Tennessee Economic and Development Commissioner Randy Boyd , and state House speaker Beth Harwell . Originally considered
4945-451: The "Herd Health" program, launched in 2019 under Lee. In August 2021, Lee signed an executive order that allowed parents to let their children opt out of school mask mandates. The next month, Lee vowed to fight President Joe Biden 's plan to require COVID-19 vaccines for federal employees and federal contractors, as well as to require businesses with more than 100 employees to require vaccination or weekly COVID-19 testing; Lee asserted that
5060-659: The 6th Governor of Tennessee, serving from October 1, 1827, to April 16, 1829. Following his Tennessee governorship, he moved west, first to the Arkansas Territory and then to what was at that time Mexican Texas . Following the Battle of Gonzales —which marked the beginning of the Texas Revolution in earnest—Houston took overall command of the Texian Army and led it to victory against Mexico . Houston
5175-605: The Chinese Communist Party ( top leader in a one-party system) has always held this office since 1993 except for the months of transition . In directorial systems , the executive responsibilities of the head of government are spread among a group of people. A prominent example is the Swiss Federal Council , where each member of the council heads a department and also votes on proposals relating to all departments. The most common title for
5290-417: The Department of Military and Ret. Lt. Col. Courtney Rogers for the Department of Veterans Services. In early January, Governor Bill Lee announced three new cabinet appointments: Dr. Lisa Piercey to the Department of Health, Brad Turner to the Department of Developmental Disability, and Christi Branscom to the Department of General Services. Along with announcing new cabinet members, Bill Lee also announced
5405-486: The Governor. The Executive Department cabinet includes Commissioners of Agriculture, Commerce, Correction, Developmental Disability, Education, Environment, General Services, Health, Finance, Labor, among others. Most executive department positions are chosen by the governor, but some like secretary of state, attorney general, treasurer, and lieutenant governor are chosen by popular statewide elections with limited input from
5520-528: The HealthCare America Corporation and Bill Haslam has held multiple chair and executive positions and is a co-owner of a minor league baseball team. Current governor Bill Lee was the president of his own company before taking office. Education varies, but typically recent governors hold at least a bachelor's degree. Bredesen earned a degree in physics from Harvard , Haslam a bachelor's in history from Emory University , and Lee
5635-480: The IMPROVE Act which aimed to provide funding for $ 10 billion of needed road construction. The act cut food sales taxes, but raised taxes on gas, diesel, and natural gas. The bill also created an annual $ 100 fee for electric car owners and increased all vehicle registration fees. Head of government In the executive branch, the head of government is the highest or the second-highest official of
5750-664: The Lee Company, his primary focus so far has been job creation and the economy. In his budget proposal, Lee outlined plans for K-12 education, mental health, criminal justice, rural economic development and health care. Like Haslam, Lee also intends to add to the Rainy Day fund . Lee's early executive orders included an order requiring all state executive departments to report rural impact and recommendations for improvement and three regarding ethics and transparency. Many recent governors have been businessmen. Phil Bredesen created
5865-420: The November 8 general election, Lee was reelected, receiving 1,129,390 votes (64.9%) to Democratic nominee Jason Martin's 572,818 (32.9%). During the general election, Lee flipped reliably Democratic Haywood County , home to Brownsville . It is one of only two remaining counties in Tennessee, along with Shelby County , with a majority African-American population. Haywood County has not voted Republican on
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#17327729131865980-548: The Rainy Day fund, passed four balanced budgets, and expanded pre-K programs. Bill Haslam , Republican, was governor from 2011 to 2018, succeeding Phil Bredesen. Because he took office during the Great Recession , he focused on economic recovery. He tightened the state's budgets, called for additional funds for Tennessee's Rainy day fund , and worked on making Tennessee more business-friendly. However, his main legacy
6095-552: The State address is typically delivered in January at the beginning of the General Assembly's session and is used to outline priorities and a legislative agenda for the coming legislative session, especially for a new administration. For example, in his first State of the State speech in 2019 Bill Lee announced his plan to add more funds to the state's rainy day fund: "As our state continues to grow, we are committed to remaining among
6210-526: The Tennessee Constitution provides for the Speaker of the Tennessee Senate to become governor. For this reason, the speaker is often referred to by the title "lieutenant governor", and was also granted this title by statute in 1951. Following the lieutenant governor/senate speaker in the line of succession are the speaker of the Tennessee House of Representatives , the secretary of state , and
6325-584: The US Senate against now senator Marsha Blackburn . He is also a former mayor of Nashville. Bredesen also proposed Cover Tennessee, a health care plan that would cost roughly $ 50 per person and would follow a person even if they changed employers. Cover Tennessee also includes Cover Kids which provides services to low-income pregnant women and children. These services include vaccinations, preventative care, vision, dental, mental health, physician services, physical and speech therapy, and hospitalization. He increased
6440-483: The United States , was the governor of Tennessee from 1839 to 1841. He was a Democrat and a devout follower of Jacksonian democratic values. Dr. John Seigenthaler wrote in his biography of Polk that "To Polk, all politics was fiscal, deeply rooted in the early struggle between federalism and republicanism; Hamilton and Jefferson; the wealthy elite and the common man." Andrew Johnson was the 17th President of
6555-463: The United States following Abraham Lincoln 's assassination . A Democrat , he had joined Lincoln and the Republicans to form a National Union ticket in order to ensure the support of War Democrats in the 1864 United States presidential election . Johnson had previously been governor of Tennessee from 1853 to 1857. The Tennessean governor was not entitled to many powers at the time, but used
6670-459: The action was unconstitutional. In November 2021, Lee signed a bill into law that restricted the ability of localities to implement public health restrictions, such as mask mandates. In March 2024, Lee signed the ELVIS Act , which was designed to protect musicians from unauthorized use of their voices by artificial intelligence technologies and against audio deepfakes and voice cloning. It
6785-417: The basis of the strength of party support in the lower house; in some other states, the head of government is directly elected by parliament. Many parliamentary systems require ministers to serve in parliament, while others ban ministers from sitting in parliament (they must resign on becoming ministers). Heads of government are typically removed from power in a parliamentary system by Constitutions differ in
6900-431: The budget by more than half and removing nearly 200,000 citizens from being eligible for Medicaid. Bredesen increased funding for education by $ 366.5 million focusing on Pre-K incentives and increasing teacher pay. In 2006 Bredesen created Cover Tennessee protecting Tennesseans with preexisting conditions and expanding care to uninsured children. In 2007, Bredesen pushed for another increase to education funding by issuing
7015-592: The cabinet, controls domestic policy, with the president's influence largely restricted to foreign affairs. In communist states , the General Secretary of the Communist Party is the supreme leader, serving as de facto head of state and government. In China , the de jure head of government is the Premier . The Chinese president is legally a ceremonial office , but the General Secretary of
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#17327729131867130-473: The collegial Government , whose members are all appointed and dismissed at the Prime Minister's sole discretion. Under the unwritten British constitution , the prime minister 's role has evolved, based often on the individual's personal appeal and strength of character, as contrasted between, for example, Winston Churchill as against Clement Attlee , Margaret Thatcher as against John Major . It
7245-489: The comptroller. In the event the governor's office becomes vacant during the first 18 months of his term, a special election for the balance of the term must be held at the time of the next federal general election. If the vacancy occurs after the first 18 months, whoever ascends to the governorship serves out the balance of the term. In either case, a partial term counts toward the limit of two consecutive terms. Governor William Blount served from 1790 to 1796, when Tennessee
7360-546: The country . Lee encouraged Tennesseans to get vaccinated, but opposed vaccine mandates and, amid the resurgence of COVID-19 cases, maintained that it was a personal choice whether to get vaccinated. He also dismissed suggestions for a return to restrictions or offering COVID-19 vaccine incentives. In 2021, Lee blocked the Tennessee Department of Health from reaching out to teenagers to encourage them to get vaccinated. In July 2021, his administration fired
7475-676: The electoral college had voted, formalizing Biden's victory. On January 8, 2021, two days after a pro-Trump mob stormed the U.S. Capitol in a bid to disrupt the counting of the electoral votes and keep Trump in power, Lee condemned the riot and acknowledged Biden as president-elect. Lee identifies as a social conservative . He emphasized his Christian faith , creating an office devoted to faith-based initiatives, and declared October 10 an official voluntary day of prayer and fasting . Lee supports allowing religious foster care and adoption agencies to prohibit same-sex married couples from adopting children . In January 2020, he signed into law
7590-482: The evidence appears to lend weight to the fact that political sectionalism in Tennessee began with the break between Jackson and Sevier." Like his rival Andrew Jackson at the time, Sevier was a member of the Democratic-Republican Party . Sam Houston represented Tennessee's 7th congressional district in the U.S. House of Representatives from March 4, 1823, to March 3, 1827, before being elected
7705-503: The final hours of the General Assembly 2020 session on a party-line vote , it was challenged in federal court by Planned Parenthood and the ACLU . Lee signed the bill into law in July 2020. A federal judge immediately blocked its enforcement because it violated Supreme Court precedent, such as Roe v. Wade , which prohibits undue burdens on pre-viability abortions. After Roe v. Wade
7820-457: The first state in the country to provide internet use in public libraries and schools. Sundquist is most known for his push for a state income tax, which received wide backlash from Democrats and Republicans. His effort of tax reform was destroyed by future governor Phil Bredesen . Phil Bredesen campaigned to reduce waste in state government, reform TennCare , and improve Tennessee schools. In 2004, Bredesen enacted TennCare reform, cutting
7935-419: The first time since 1982 that a candidate from the incumbent U.S. President's party was elected governor of Tennessee. This is also the first time that Republicans won three consecutive gubernatorial elections in the state, and the first time that a Republican was elected to succeed another Republican. As of 2024, this election had the largest number of candidates (28) in a statewide election in U.S. history;
8050-456: The government and provides (e.g. by turns) the ceremonial Head of state. The only state in which this system is currently employed is Switzerland but other countries such as Uruguay have employed it in the past . This system is described as the directorial system . See Head of state for further explanation of these cases. In parliamentary systems, government functions along the following lines: All of these requirements directly impact
8165-444: The government, and is answerable to at least one chamber of the legislature. Although there is often a formal reporting relationship to a head of state , the latter usually acts as a figurehead who may take the role of chief executive on limited occasions, either when receiving constitutional advice from the head of government or under specific provisions in a constitution. In presidential republics or in absolute monarchies ,
8280-444: The governor's salary was set at $ 204,336 per year. This is the fourth highest U.S. gubernatorial salary. Bill Haslam and his predecessor, Phil Bredesen , both were independently wealthy before taking office and refused to accept state salaries for their service as governor. Tennessee does not elect a lieutenant governor . If a vacancy occurs in the office of governor due to the governor's death, removal, or resignation from office,
8395-409: The governor. State comptrollers and department heads are typically chosen by panels or commissions independent of gubernatorial interference, the most common chosen in this way across the United States being the head of Education, Natural Resources, Labor, and high Education boards. Before being inaugurated as governor, then Governor-elect Bill Lee announced two appointments: Maj. Gen. Jeff Holmes for
8510-453: The head of government's role. Consequently, they often play a 'day to day' role in parliament, answering questions and defending the government on the 'floor of the House', while in semi-presidential systems they may not be required to play as much of a role in the functioning of parliament. In many countries, the head of government is commissioned by the head of state to form a government, on
8625-477: The head of state can also be the head of government as well ( ex officio or by ad hoc cumulation, such as a ruling monarch exercising all powers himself) but otherwise has formal precedence over the head of government and other ministers, whether he is their actual political superior (ruling monarch, executive president) or rather theoretical or ceremonial in character (constitutional monarch, non-executive president). Various constitutions use different titles, and even
8740-411: The head of state is a figurehead whilst the head of the government leads the ruling party. In some cases a head of government may even pass on the title in hereditary fashion. Such titles include the following: In some models the head of state and head of government are one and the same. These include: An alternative formula is a single chief political body (e.g., presidium ) which collectively leads
8855-463: The head of state is also usually the head of government. The relationship between that leader and the government, however, can vary greatly, ranging from separation of powers to autocracy , according to the constitution (or other basic laws) of the particular state. In semi-presidential systems , the head of government may answer to both the head of state and the legislature with the specifics provided by each country's constitution. A modern example
8970-434: The head of state is the de jure dominant position does not mean that he/she will not always be the de facto political leader. A skilled head of government like 19th-century German statesman Otto von Bismarck , Minister President of Prussia and later Chancellor of Germany under Emperor / King Wilhelm I , serves as an example showing that possession of formal powers does not equal political influence. In some cases,
9085-488: The head of state may represent one political party but the majority in the National Assembly is of a different party. Given that the majority party has greater control over state funding and primary legislation , the president is in effect forced to choose a prime minister from the opposition party to ensure an effective, functioning legislature. In this case, known as cohabitation , the prime minister, along with
9200-410: The head of state, such as a governor-general , may well be housed in a grander, palace-type residence. However, this is not the case when both positions are combined into one: Bill Lee (Tennessee politician) William Byron Lee (born October 9, 1959) is an American businessman and politician who has served since 2019 as the 50th governor of Tennessee . A member of the Republican Party , Lee
9315-488: The largest it has ever been in both real dollars and as a percentage of our overall revenue." During a governor's final address before leaving office, the speech is used to highlight the outgoing governor's achievements. Haslam in 2018 highlighted Tennessee's job growth rate, greater funding for K-12 education and teachers' salaries, tax and spending cuts, and a record high for high school graduation rates in Tennessee history, all achieved under his administration. As of 2022,
9430-446: The law, and in July 2021, a federal judge granted a preliminary injunction blocking its enforcement, finding that it violated the First Amendment . On February 27, 2023, Lee declared that he would sign the Adult Entertainment Act , which bans public drag performances ; the first violation of the law would be a misdemeanor , while the second would be a felony . Lee's announcement came two days after photos of him dressed in drag at
9545-403: The legislature. In either situation, the governor's veto can be overridden by a simple majority of both houses of the legislature. If a governor exercises the veto authority after the legislature has adjourned, the veto stands. It is uncommon for Tennessee governors to use their veto power, likely because it is relatively easy for the General Assembly to override a veto. Article III Section 9 of
9660-426: The level of the sovereign state (often without an actual head of state, at least under international law) may also be given an official residence, sometimes used as an opportunity to display aspirations of statehood: Usually, the residence of the heads of government is not as prestigious and grand as that of the head of state, even if the head of state only performs ceremonial duties. Even the formal representative of
9775-465: The life of another prisoner after he threatened to kill Sutton, who was then sentenced to death. In February 2020, he was executed after Lee denied clemency. In 2022, Lee set a temporary moratorium on Tennessee's death penalty, citing concerns about botched executions . In 2024, he signed into law a bill that would impose the death penalty on people convicted of child rape, but the law is unenforceable due to Kennedy v. Louisiana . In 2019, with
9890-485: The most cost-effective investments in the families of our state employees in recent history". In 2019, Lee proposed repealing Tennessee's 10% amusement tax on gym, fitness center, and health club fees, arguing that the tax discourages Tennesseans from being physically active. If enacted, the repeal would reduce state revenues by around $ 10 million. In September 2020, Lee supported a Tennessee delegation that traveled to Beijing to enhance trade and economic linkages between
10005-484: The most fiscally sound and best managed states in America. We live in prosperous days, but it's precisely during these times when we must build up our storehouses for when times may not be as good. For that reason, I am particularly proud of this: in my budget, we are making the largest single contribution to our Rainy Day Fund in the state's history. When this budget is implemented, our Rainy Day Fund will be $ 1.1 billion –
10120-601: The mother's life is in jeopardy. Lee opposes the expansion of TennCare , the state's Medicaid program, as allowed by the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act . As governor, he has rejected proposals to expand TennCare. Lee has supported calls from dentists to extend TennCare to pregnant women who need dental care. In January 2020, Lee signed an executive order effective March 1, 2020, that offered state employees three months' paid leave for new parents and caregivers of sick relatives. He called it "one of
10235-421: The number of COVID-19 cases continued to grow, he asked all school districts to close for the remainder of the school year. In October 2020, after a member of Lee's security detail tested positive for COVID-19, Lee said that he and his wife would quarantine at home, likely for two weeks. Throughout the pandemic, Lee opposed a statewide mask mandate and "touted Tennessee for being one of the last to close early in
10350-480: The number of students enrolling in technical and community colleges. Bill Lee has continued this priority by proposing a budget to increase funding for school safety and resource officers. Democratic and Republican administrations alike have carried the belief that a well balanced budget should always be paramount when shaping policy in Tennessee. Governor Sundquist served from 1995 to 2003. In 1996 Sundquist focused heavily on ethics and welfare reforms and played
10465-400: The pandemic and among the first to reopen." On April 28, 2020, Lee signed an executive order allowing gyms in 89 out of 95 counties to open on May 1. By September, he lifted restrictions on businesses and gathering restrictions in Tennessee, except for the state's six most populous counties. By April 2021, Lee declared that COVID-19 was "a managed public health issue in Tennessee and no longer
10580-546: The position from 1992 until 2016. He briefly served as chairman. Lee lives in Fernvale with his second wife, Maria, whom he married in October 2008. His first wife, Carol Ann, died in 2000 in a horseback riding accident. After her death, Lee took extended time off from his construction company to raise his four children. Lee previously served as a member of the board of trustees of Belmont University , chairman of
10695-417: The position to publicize his views. Ray Blanton was governor from 1975 to 1979. He was forced from office days early by a "coup" led by his own party's leaders Speaker Ned McWherter and Lieutenant Governor John S. Wilder to inaugurate Lamar Alexander early and forestall additional potential pardons of a questionable nature. Phil Bredesen , Democrat, was governor from 2003 to 2011. In 2018, he ran for
10810-476: The practical reality for the Prime Minister of Belgium and the Prime Minister of Finland . Other states however, make their head of government a central and dominant figure within the cabinet system; Ireland's Taoiseach , for example, alone can decide when to seek a parliamentary dissolution, in contrast to other countries where this is a cabinet decision, with the Prime Minister just one member voting on
10925-601: The previous record was the 2016 United States presidential election in Colorado . This large surge in candidates was mostly due to the Libertarian Party of Tennessee 's protest of the state's party affiliation and ballot access laws. In September 2020, Lee announced his candidacy for reelection for 2022 . He was unchallenged in the Republican primary and endorsed in August 2021 by Donald Trump . In
11040-407: The range and scope of powers granted to the head of government. Some older constitutions; for example, Australia's 1900 text , and Belgium's 1830 text ; do not mention their prime ministerial offices at all, the offices became a de facto political reality without a formal constitutional status. Some constitutions make a Prime Minister primus inter pares ( first among equals ) and that remains
11155-423: The relationship between that position and other state institutions, such as the relation between the head of state and of the legislature, varies greatly among sovereign states, depending largely on the particular system of the government that has been chosen, won, or evolved over time. In most parliamentary systems , including constitutional monarchies , the head of government is the de facto political leader of
11270-449: The rolls for the sake of the budget, was criticized, and it played a role in his Senate race in 2018. Tennessee governors have a history of going back and forth between democrats and republicans, though the former Democratic stronghold is now solidly Republican. Tennessee governors' achievements generally have varied with the priorities of the administration. Since governor Haslam , much emphasis has been placed on education and increasing
11385-406: The same title can have various multiple meanings, depending on the constitutional order and political system of the state in question. In addition to prime minister, titles used for the democratic model, where there is an elected legislative body checking the head of government, include the following. Some of these titles relate to governments below the national level (e.g. states or provinces). In
11500-664: The severity of penalties for a number of protest-related offenses. Notably, it reclassifies camping on state property, after being warned of trespass, from a misdemeanor to a felony offense punishable by up to 6 years in prison. This means that anyone convicted of the act will also lose their right to vote, as convicted felons in Tennessee are disfranchised . In 2024, Lee signed a law allowing public officials to refuse to perform marriages that they oppose for "reasons of conscience or other religious beliefs", including refusing to perform interracial or interfaith marriages. The law allows for "the possibility for couples to be refused marriage for
11615-416: The state and small business to help adults buy affordable insurance that follows them, no matter where they work, and that doesn't require high deductibles on the front end." Cover Tennessee would follow a citizen regardless if they changed employers and Cover Kids provides services to pregnant women and children in low-income families. His handling of TennCare , namely that he cut more than 170,000 people from
11730-509: The state and the People's Republic of China . Lee supports charter schools . In a March 2019 "State of West Tennessee " address, he proposed creating more charter schools and that the state use $ 25 million to help traditional public schools when they lose students. In his February 2020 "state of West Tennessee" address, he proposed investing $ 70 million to equip teachers with professional development, materials, and other tools to help increase
11845-465: The state constitution empowers the governor to call the General Assembly into special session, with the subjects to be considered limited to matters specified in the proclamation. In the state of Tennessee, one of the powers of the governor is to appoint justices to the state, local, and appellate courts through a system known as the Tennessee Plan . The process includes nominees being vetted by
11960-523: The state's literacy rate. Lee has also promoted the GIVE program, which prioritizes learning opportunities in rural counties and enhances career and technical education statewide. In April 2019, Lee announced that Tennessee would temporarily reinstate paper-based assessments for students taking the TNReady test, an annual statewide assessment, during the 2019–20 school year. In May 2019, he signed into law
12075-429: The state's vaccine chief, Michelle Fiscus, who had angered some Republican state legislators by promoting vaccination for eligible youth. The state Health Department stopped vaccination-related outreach to minors for all diseases, not only COVID-19. Lee opposed offering vaccine incentives even as the Tennessee government spent nearly $ 500,000 to incentivize farmers to vaccinate cattle against respiratory disease as part of
12190-417: The state, in 2019 Lee allowed a sports betting legalization bill to become law without his signature. On March 12, 2020, in response to the growing number of COVID-19 cases, Lee issued an executive order declaring a temporary state of emergency in Tennessee to "facilitate the treatment and containment of COVID-19." He extended the "stay-at-home" mandate through April 2020. Lee issued further orders for
12305-558: The suggestion. In Israel , while the Government is nominally a collegiate body with a primus inter pares role for the Prime Minister , the Israeli Prime Minister is the dominant figure in the executive branch in practice. The Prime Minister of Sweden , under the 1974 Instrument of Government , is a constitutional office with all key executive powers either directly at his or her disposal or indirectly through
12420-416: The support of Republican state legislators, Lee loosened Tennessee's handgun law, allowing "concealed-carry-only" handgun permits to be obtained without requiring applicants to show an ability to fire a weapon. In April 2021, Lee signed into law a permitless carry bill; the legislation allows most adults 21 and older (as well as military personnel ages 18–20) to carry handguns ( open and concealed ) without
12535-639: Was known as the Southwest Territory . He was replaced by John Sevier , the state's first governor. Other notable governors include Willie Blount (William's half-brother), Sam Houston (better known for his role as the President of the Republic of Texas ), and future U.S. Presidents James K. Polk and Andrew Johnson Bill Lee , Republican, is the 50th governor of Tennessee, succeeding Bill Haslam in 2019. A former president of his company,
12650-530: Was noted to be the first such enacted legislation in the nation. In July 2019, Lee toured damage in West Tennessee inflicted by flooding from the remnants of Hurricane Barry . A series of tornadoes in Tennessee on March 2–3, 2020 , killed 25 people and injured 150. Lee oversaw the state recovery efforts and surveyed the damage in Nashville, visiting Germantown, Tennessee State University , and Cookeville . In September 2024, Lee declined to declare
12765-457: Was overturned , Lee supported Tennessee's near-total ban on abortion, which has no exceptions for rape, incest, or the mother's health. Lee has said the ban provides "maximum protection possible for both mother and child", but it makes no explicit exceptions for the pregnant patient's health. It makes an exception for an "affirmative defense" for emergencies, but the vagueness of that language makes physicians hesitant to perform abortions even when
12880-507: Was president and chief executive officer (CEO) of the Lee Company, a business operated by his family, from 1992 to 2016. In 2017, Lee described himself as a social conservative . As governor, he has signed bills to ban mask mandates and ranked-choice voting ; implemented one of the country's strictest abortion bans ; allowed guns to be carried without a permit ; created school voucher programs; and increased penalties for protest-related offenses. Lee signed Tennessee's " bathroom bill ";
12995-410: Was re-elected to serve a second term in 2022 . The Tennessee Constitution provides that the governor must be at least 30 years old and must have lived in the state for at least seven years before being elected to the office. The governor is elected to a four-year term and may serve no more than two terms consecutively. There are only two other U.S. states, New Jersey and Hawaii , where the governor
13110-575: Was sworn in on January 21, 2023. Lee was sworn in on January 19, 2019, and delivered his first State of the State address to the Tennessee General Assembly in March 2019. In January 2020, Lee proposed a bill to ban abortion as early as 6 weeks into pregnancy . The legislation was among the nation's strictest abortion bans, and was similar to six-week abortion bans that were blocked by courts in Mississippi, Ohio, and other states. Passed in
13225-470: Was then elected as the first, and then the third, President of Texas . Houston assisted in the annexation of Texas by the United States, after which he represented Texas in the US Senate . He was later elected as 7th Governor of Texas , thus becoming the only person in history to serve as governor of two different US states. The city of Houston is named after him. James K. Polk , 11th President of
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