Tennessee ranks 3rd of 50 in the 2026 Federalism Scorecard, with a score of 53.95.
Tennessee Rankings at a Glance
Rank: 3nd of 50
Score: 53.95
2025: 1st, 67.18
Change: down two places, -13..23 points
National median: 12.88
Highest-scoring state in the South
Federal guidance disclosure at the Department of Education, one of only three states with any such requirement
Repealed injunctive relief against state agency actions in 2026, which no state no provides
How Tennessee Compares to Its Neighbors
Tennessee's eight bordering states average 6.76, and the strongest of them is Arkansas at 18th (16.60). Tennessee scores more than three times its nearest neighbor. The South's median is 14.32, second-highest of the four regions, but the region also holds Mississippi at 49th (-15.50), which Tennessee borders.
