{"data":{"id":"us-tn/tenn.-code-ann.-39-16-401","jurisdiction":"us-tn","citation":"Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-16-401","heading":"Definitions for public misconduct offenses","body":"As used in this part, unless the context otherwise requires: (1) \"Act\" means a bodily movement, whether voluntary or involuntary, and includes speech; (2) \"Law\" means the constitution or a statute of this state or of the United States, a written opinion of a court of record, a municipal ordinance, or a rule authorized by and lawfully adopted under a statute; and (3) \"Public servant\" means a person elected, selected, appointed, employed, or otherwise designated as one (1) of the following even if the public servant has not yet qualified for office or assumed the duties: (A) An officer, employee, or agent of government; (B) A juror or grand juror; (C) An arbitrator, referee, or other person who is authorized by law or private written agreement to hear or determine a cause or controversy; (D) An attorney at law or notary public when participating in performing a governmental function; (E) A candidate for nomination or election to public office; or (F) A person who is performing a governmental function under claim of right although not legally qualified to do so. Acts 1989, ch. 591, § 1.\nAs used in this part, unless the context otherwise requires:\n(1) \"Act\" means a bodily movement, whether voluntary or involuntary, and includes speech;\n(2) \"Law\" means the constitution or a statute of this state or of the United States, a written opinion of a court of record, a municipal ordinance, or a rule authorized by and lawfully adopted under a statute; and\n(3) \"Public servant\" means a person elected, selected, appointed, employed, or otherwise designated as one (1) of the following even if the public servant has not yet qualified for office or assumed the duties: (A) An officer, employee, or agent of government; (B) A juror or grand juror; (C) An arbitrator, referee, or other person who is authorized by law or private written agreement to hear or determine a cause or controversy; (D) An attorney at law or notary public when participating in performing a governmental function; (E) A candidate for nomination or election to public office; or (F) A person who is performing a governmental function under claim of right although not legally qualified to do so.\n(A) An officer, employee, or agent of government;\n(B) A juror or grand juror;\n(C) An arbitrator, referee, or other person who is authorized by law or private written agreement to hear or determine a cause or controversy;\n(D) An attorney at law or notary public when participating in performing a governmental function;\n(E) A candidate for nomination or election to public office; or\n(F) A person who is performing a governmental function under claim of right although not legally qualified to do so.","path":["TN Code","Title 39","Chapter 16"],"source_url":"https://oss-data-us.vaquill.ai/v2026.08/us_tn_statutes.parquet","current_through":"2026-08-14","vintage":"open-us-law v2026.08, retrieved 2026-09-14","retrieved_at":"2026-09-14T18:32:26Z","sha256":"d7e15729b07dd0f75f9dce6f0df4eb194b3132113a60703326adc136b9830d26","source_id":"us-tn","stale":false,"prev":"us-tn/tenn.-code-ann.-39-16-304","next":"us-tn/tenn.-code-ann.-39-16-402"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}