Tenn. Code § 48-101-305
When executed and acknowledged in conformity with § 48-101-304, the certificate of incorporation shall be filed with the secretary of state. The secretary of state shall thereupon examine the certificate of incorporation and, if the secretary of state finds that the recitals contained therein are correct, that the requirements of § 48-101-304 have been complied with, and that the name is not identical with or so nearly similar to that of another corporation already in existence in this state as to lead to confusion and uncertainty, the secretary of state shall approve the certificate of incorporation and record it in an appropriate book or record in the secretary of state's office. When such certificate has been so made, filed and approved, the applicants shall constitute a public corporation under the name set out in the certificate of incorporation.
T.C.A. § 48-101-305