Tennessee Code Title 5. Counties § 5-5-101

(a) The county legislative body is established as a basic legislative unit of each county of this state; provided, that this subsection (a) shall not apply to counties that have already adopted the metropolitan form of government.

(b) Effective September 1, 1978, except in any county organized under the consolidated government provisions of the Constitution of Tennessee, article XI, § 9, the quarterly county court, county council and any other forms of county legislative bodies are abolished and all legislative powers that remained with such court, council and other forms of legislative bodies are hereby vested in the county legislative body. The county legislative body is further vested with all legislative powers and duties vested in justices of the peace prior to May 11, 1978.

(c) References to the quarterly county court, county council or other county legislative body appearing elsewhere in this code shall be deemed references to the county legislative body.

(d) References to the magistrates, justices of the peace, members or membership of such court, council or body appearing elsewhere in this code shall be deemed references to the members of the county legislative body.