A RESOLUTION to propose an amendment to the Constitution of Tennessee, regarding the composition of congressional districts.
Summary
SJR7005 is a proposed constitutional amendment that would change how Tennessee draws its congressional districts. Under the resolution, after each decennial U.S. Census, the General Assembly would be responsible for establishing the composition of congressional districts, and those districts could not be changed again until the next census. The measure is framed as an amendment to Article II, Section 4 of the Tennessee Constitution.
The resolution also sets out the procedural steps required for a constitutional amendment in Tennessee. It directs that the proposal be referred to the next General Assembly for consideration and that it be published on the official websites of the Secretary of State and the General Assembly as required by the state constitution. Because it is a joint resolution proposing a constitutional change, it does not itself redraw districts but instead seeks voter-approved constitutional authority for the redistricting rule.
Impact
If adopted, the resolution would amend the Tennessee Constitution to require congressional redistricting only once per decennial census and to place that authority with the General Assembly. This would affect the state’s redistricting process and limit mid-decade changes to congressional district boundaries, potentially reducing flexibility in response to population shifts or legal challenges between censuses. It would primarily affect state lawmakers and future congressional candidates and voters in Tennessee.
Sentiment
Based on the available record, there is no committee transcript or vote history showing debate, opposition, or support levels. The bill’s text suggests a straightforward procedural and structural change to redistricting authority, but the provided materials do not include evidence of formal sentiment from committee discussion or floor action.
Contention
No specific points of contention are documented in the provided materials. In general, measures governing congressional redistricting can raise concerns about partisan control, fairness, population equality, and the timing of district changes, but no such arguments are recorded here. The only clearly identified actor is the General Assembly, which would gain explicit constitutional authority over congressional district composition after each census.
Proposing an amendment to Section 6 of Article II of the Constitution of Virginia and proposing an amendment to the Constitution of Virginia by adding in the Schedule a section numbered 6, relating to apportionment; congressional districts; limited authority of the General Assembly to modify.
Proposing a constitutional amendment establishing the Texas Redistricting Commission to redistrict Texas congressional districts and revising procedures for redistricting.
Proposing a constitutional amendment establishing the Texas Redistricting Commission to redistrict the Texas Legislature and Texas congressional districts and revising procedures for redistricting.