Tennessee Code Title 8. Public Officers and Employees § 8-12-104

The county surveyor has the power to appoint as many as two (2) deputies, with all the powers, rights, and duties of the surveyor, who shall hold office for and during the term of the surveyor appointing them, unless sooner removed by the surveyor, or otherwise removed according to law, and their official acts shall have the same force and effect as the acts of the surveyor. The deputies shall be appointed before the county legislative body, in open session, and the appointment entered on the minutes. They shall take the oath of office prescribed for the surveyor to be administered by the same official.