Freedom Index

A Legislative Scorecard Based on the Principles of the U.S. Constitution

Legislative Scorecard Based on the U.S. Constitution

The Legislative Scorecard is a nationwide educational program of The John Birch Society. Its purpose is to create an informed electorate on how state legislators are voting. The Scorecard is nonpartisan; it does not promote any candidate or political party. Bills are selected for their constitutional implications and cost to the taxpayers.

Please share this Scorecard in your district to inform people about your legislator's record on key votes.
U.S. Constitution, Amendment I --- 11 C.F.R. §114(4)(c)(4) --- 616 F.2d 45 (2d Cir. 1980)

Legislative Scorecard

Based on the U.S. Constitution

TN Scorecard 2024

The Legislative Scorecard is a nationwide educational program of The John Birch Society. Its purpose is to create an informed electorate on how state legislators are voting. The Scorecard is nonpartisan; it does not promote any candidate or political party. Bills are selected for their constitutional implications and cost to the taxpayers.

Please share this Scorecard in your district to inform people about your legislator's record on key votes.
U.S. Constitution, Amendment I --- 11 C.F.R. §114(4)(c)(4) --- 616 F.2d 45 (2d Cir. 1980)

The following scorecard lists several key votes in the Tennessee General Assembly in 2024 and ranks state representatives and senators based on their fidelity to (U.S.) constitutional and limited-government principles.

Senate

1. Death Penalty for Child Rape

Good Vote: Yes

SB1834 Death Penalty for Child Rape (passed 23 to 5 on 4/23/2024). Authorizes the death penalty as a punishment for “rape” of a child, “aggravated rape” of a child, or “especially aggravated rape” of a child.

2. Ban on LGBTQ+ "Pride" Flag in Schools

Good Vote: Yes

HB1605 Ban on LGBTQ+ "Pride" Flag in Schools (failed 13 to 6 on 4/23/2024). Would prohibit the display of any flag other than the United States flag and the official Tennessee state flag in public schools.

3. Article V Convention: Term Limits

Good Vote: No

HJR5 Article V Convention: Term Limits (passed 18 to 11 on 4/11/2024). Applies to Congress to “call a convention” under Article V of the U.S. Constitution for the purpose of proposing amendments that would set term limits on members of Congress.

4. Federal Funds to Alleviate "Childhood Hunger"

Good Vote: No

SB1505 Federal Funds to Alleviate "Childhood Hunger" (failed 15 to 15 on 4/9/2024). Would require the Department of Human Services to actively seek and apply for federal grants and other available federal funds for the purpose of alleviating “childhood hunger.

5. Local Enforcement of Immigration Law

Good Vote: Yes

HB2124 Local Enforcement of Immigration Law (passed 26 to 7 on 3/25/2024). Directs local law enforcement agencies to cooperate with federal officials in the identification, apprehension, detention, or removal of aliens not lawfully present in the United States.

6. Grandparent "Visitation Rights" in Child Custody Cases

Good Vote: No

SB2840 Grandparent "Visitation Rights" in Child Custody Cases (passed 32 to 0 on 3/18/2024). Specifies that a court may order “reasonable visitation” to grandparents when it is in the “best interests of the child” if such visitation is opposed by the child’s custodial parent(s).

Legislator Scores
[ + ] Pro-liberty Vote[ - ] Anti-liberty Vote[ . ] Did not Vote
Name Party District Score 123456
Raumesh Akbari D SD-029 17% --+---
Paul Bailey R SD-015 100% +.+++.
Janince Bowling R SD-016 75% ..+++-
Richard Briggs R SD-007 40% +.--+-
Heidi Campbell D SD-020 17% --+---
Rusty Crowe R SD-003 50% ++--+-
Todd Gardenhire R SD-010 60% +.++--
Ferrell Haile R SD-018 40% +.--+-
Joseph Hensley R SD-028 83% +++++-
Edward Jackson R SD-025 50% ++--+-
Jack Johnson R SD-027 67% ++-++-
Sara Kyle D SD-030 NA ....--
London Lamar D SD-033 0% --..--
Adam Lowe R SD-001 67% ++-++-
Jon Lundberg R SD-004 60% ++-.+-
Becky Massey R SD-006 40% +.--+-
Randy McNally R SD-005 33% +---+-
Frank Niceley R SD-008 50% ++--+-
Charlane Oliver D SD-019 17% --+---
Mark Pody R SD-017 50% ..-++-
Bill Powers R SD-022 60% +.-++-
Shane Reeves R SD-014 40% +.--+-
Kerry Roberts R SD-023 75% .+.++-
Paul Rose R SD-032 83% +++++-
Steve Southerland R SD-009 60% ++.-+-
John Stevens R SD-024 60% +.-++-
Art Swann R SD-002 50% ++--+-
Brent Taylor R SD-031 83% +++++-
Page Walley R SD-026 40% +.--+-
Bo Watson R SD-011 75% ..+++-
Dawn White R SD-013 67% ++-++-
Ken Yager R SD-012 60% +.-++-
Jeff Yarbro D SD-021 17% --+---

Average Constitutional Score by Party

Party Score
Democrat 13.6%
Republican 59.9%