Opinion ID: 1061020
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Constitutional Analysis Generally

Text: We begin with the presumption which the law attaches and which we cannot ignore that the acts of the General Assembly are constitutional. See e.g., Petition of Burson, 909 S.W.2d 768 (Tenn. 1995); Davis-Kidd Booksellers, Inc. v. McWherter, 866 S.W.2d 520 (Tenn. 1993); Bozeman v. Barker, 571 S.W.2d 279 (Tenn. 1978). In evaluating the constitutionality of a statute, we must indulge every presumption and resolve every doubt in favor of constitutionality. Petition of Burson, 909 S.W.2d 768 (Tenn. 1995). A statute comes to a court clothed in a presumption of constitutionality [since] the Legislature does not intentionally pass an unconstitutional act. Cruz v. Chevrolet Grey Iron Div. of General Motors, 398 Mich. 117, 247 N.W.2d 764, 769 (1976). Therefore, notwithstanding the trial judge's findings in this case, we must begin our inquiry with the presumption that the statute in question passes constitutional muster.