For all information regarding the Tennessee General Assembly go to http://www.capitol.tn.gov

The upper house of Tennessee's General Assembly is called the Senate. The state is divided into 33 senatorial districts, from each of which one senator is elected. Senators are elected to four-year terms with those from even-numbered districts being elected in the same general election, and those representing odd-numbered districts being elected two years later. Thus, about half of the 33 senators are standing for election at the same time. Re-election to the Senate is constitutionally permissible, as it is in the House, and there is no limit on the number of terms a legislator may serve.

To qualify for election to the Senate, one must be 30 years old, a U.S. citizen, a state resident for three years and a resident of the district in which he is elected for one year immediately preceding his election.

The leader of the Senate, or speaker, is also the state's lieutenant governor. The speaker of the Senate is elected by the Senate at each organizational session of the General Assembly. The lieutenant governor stands in immediate succession to the governorship if such is necessary.

Other leaders in the Senate include the speaker pro tem, deputy speaker and the majority and minority leaders, who are the primary spokesmen for their respective parties concerning Senate matters. Two other key Senate officers are the Democratic and Republican caucus chairmen, who preside over meetings of their political parties to consider and formulate party policy.

The Senate has certain powers and obligations that are different from those of the House of Representatives. The Senate is given the power to try impeachment proceedings initiated by the House. Any officer of the state may be impeached, but two-thirds of the Senate must concur before removal from office occurs.

Political makeup of the Senate of the 106th General Assembly is 19 Republicans and 14 Democrats.

The larger house, and arguably the more representative one, of Tennessee's bicameral legislature is called the House of Representatives. It occupies the largest space in the State Capitol known as the House Chamber seen at left. The state is divided into 99 House districts from each of which one representative is elected. In 2002 each district was comprised on average of 56,000 residents. The House goes through a re-districting process every 10 years.

Representatives are elected to two-year terms with all representatives standing for election at the same time. This is consistent with the practice in all other states with the exceptions of Alabama, Louisiana, Maryland, and Mississippi which allow representatives to serve four-year terms.

To qualify for election to the House, one must be 21 years old, a U.S. citizen, a state resident for three years, and a resident of the county in which elected for one year immediately preceding the election.

The residency requirement is practically universal since only New York has no such prerequisite.

During the organizational session of the House, a speaker and a speaker pro tempore are elected. The speaker pro tempore acts in the absence of the speaker, but the speaker has the right to name any member to perform the duties of the chair for a period not to exceed one legislative day.

Other leaders in the House of Representatives include the majority and minority leaders who are the chief floor spokespersons for their respective political parties. In addition, the Democratic and Republican Caucus chairpersons occupy significant roles in directing meetings of their party members.

The House of Representatives has non-lawmaking powers that are distinct from the Senate's authority.

For example, the House has the sole power to originate impeachment proceedings against public officials, who then are brought before the Senate for trial. In such event, the House elects three of its own members to prosecute the case before the Senate.

The House also functions in a similar capacity to that of the Senate in several ways. For instance, after the general election, the House is the sole judge of the qualifications of its members and may determine its own rules of proceedings. Furthermore, the House, like the Senate, is free to adopt resolutions regarding virtually any issue concerning the state, country or world community.

The 106th General Assembly convened at noon on January 13, 2009 in the House Chamber.