(a) The great seal of the state of Tennessee shall be in the shape of a circle. The circumference of the circle shall bear the words “THE GREAT SEAL OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE” and in the lower part of the circumference shall be the date “1796,” being the year in which the constitution of Tennessee was adopted and Tennessee became one of the United States.
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Terms Used In Tennessee Code 4-1-314

  • Agriculture: means :
    (i) The land, buildings and machinery used in the commercial production of farm products and nursery stock. See Tennessee Code 1-3-105
  • State: when applied to the different parts of the United States, includes the District of Columbia and the several territories of the United States. See Tennessee Code 1-3-105
  • United States: includes the District of Columbia and the several territories of the United States. See Tennessee Code 1-3-105
  • Year: means a calendar year, unless otherwise expressed. See Tennessee Code 1-3-105
(b) Inside the upper semicircle of the circle shall be set the numerals “XVI,” being the number of the state in chronological order within the United States; below the numerals shall be the figures of a plough, sheaf of wheat and cotton plant, emblematic of agriculture within the state; and under the base of the upper semicircle shall be the word “AGRICULTURE.”
(c) Inside the lower semicircle of the circle shall be set the figure of a boat with sail, emblematic of commercial activity in the state; and below this figure the word “COMMERCE.”
(d) The size of the seal embossed shall be not greater in diameter than two and one-quarter inches (21/4″) nor smaller in diameter than one and three-quarter inches (13/4″).
(e) The size of printed seals shall conform to the range of sizes as permitted by the rules of the state publication committee.
(f) Until a different rendering of this design is submitted by the governor to the secretary of state and approved by resolution by both houses of the general assembly, voting separately, the design in use as of May 17, 1987 is hereby validated and adopted, to wit:

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(g) The governor is requested, by July 1, 2025, to submit a new design of the great seal of the state of Tennessee to the secretary of state that incorporates the language “In God We Trust.” The design is subject to approval as provided in subsection (f).
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