Tennessee Constitution Article X - Oaths, Bribery of Electors, New Counties.
Tennessee Constitution – Article X: Oaths, Bribery of Electors, New Counties
Overview:
Article X of the Tennessee Constitution covers three distinct but important topics related to governance and elections:
Oaths of Office
Bribery of Electors (Voters)
Creation of New Counties
Key Provisions:
1. Oaths of Office:
Every officer elected or appointed under Tennessee's government must take an oath to support the Constitution of the United States and of Tennessee.
This oath must be taken before entering office.
The purpose is to ensure all public officials pledge loyalty and uphold constitutional duties.
2. Bribery of Electors:
Bribery or attempting to bribe voters to influence elections is strictly prohibited.
Anyone convicted of bribery or corrupt practices related to elections shall be disqualified from holding office.
This provision aims to protect the integrity of elections and ensure they are free from corruption or undue influence.
3. New Counties:
The General Assembly has authority to create new counties within the state.
However, the formation of new counties must respect certain limitations such as:
Minimum population requirements.
Geographic and economic viability.
Provisions to avoid excessive fragmentation.
This ensures new counties are practical and sustainable.
Purpose:
To ensure accountability and constitutional fidelity of public officials.
To protect electoral integrity by preventing bribery and corruption.
To regulate the orderly creation of new counties for effective local governance.
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