Why Nashville’s Metro Council has 40 members — for now

With 40 members, Nashville’s Metro Council is the third largest in the country, behind Chicago and New York City. But maybe not for long.

The Tennessee state legislature is considering a bill that “caps at 20 the number of members that may be elected to the governing body of a metropolitan or municipal government.” The bill’s sponsor, House Majority Leader William Lamberth, R-Portland, says that 20 members makes for a more “efficient” body. But the move is seen by many Democrats as direct retaliation for the Metro Council’s vote against hosting the Republican National Convention in 2024.

The bill is part of a broader pattern of tension between the Tennessee legislature and Metro Nashville government, which has seen state lawmakers pass laws that preempt local authority. In this episode, we explore that context, discuss the debate over the size of the Nashville Metro Council and delve into the history of the council, which was formed during the consolidation of the city and county governments in 1962.

Guests:

• Nate Rau, reporter for Axios Nashville

• Joy Styles, District 32 Metro Council member

• Bob Mendes, at-large Metro Council member

• Emily Evans, former District 23 Metro Council member

• David Briley, former mayor and vice mayor

• Ed Kindall, former District 21 Metro Council member

Related reading: 

• Curious Nashville: A Simple Question About Metro’s ‘Satellite Cities’ Reveals Deeper Questions About Growth And Race

• A top Republican lawmaker files legislation to downsize the Metro Council

• ‘It’s basically retaliation’: Metro Council could be downsized by Tennessee’s Republican legislature

• Metro councilmembers don’t want to host national political conventions in Nashville

• This Is Nashville’s guide to the $2.9 billion Metro budget