No person shall be put to answer any criminal charge, but by presentment, indictment or impeachment; provided, that, in accordance with this chapter, an accused represented by an attorney may waive the right to be tried upon presentment or indictment and consent to prosecution by information.
Code 1858, § 4989; Shan., § 6948; mod. Code 1932, § 11489; Acts 1975, ch. 258, § 1; T.C.A. (orig. ed.), § 40-301.