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Michigan Constitution
From Ballotpedia
| Michigan Constitution |
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| Articles |
| Preamble • I • II • III • IV • V • VI • VII • VIII • IX • X • XI • XII • Schedule |
History
Four constitutions have been approved by the people of Michigan. The first, in 1835, was written as Michigan prepared to become a state of the Union, which occurred in 1837. The current constitution was approved by voters in 1963.
Summary
The current constitution contains a preamble followed by 12 sections. There is also a schedule at the end, to ease transition from territory to state.
- Article I establishes the rights and liberties of the citizens of Michigan.
- Article II details the election process, as well as recalls and voter qualifications.
- Article III deals with miscellaneous provisions, such as the state seal, seat of government, and separation of powers.
- Article IV establishes the legislative branch of government as the law-making body of the state.
- Article V establishes the executive branch and describes the powers and qualifications of the governor and lieutenant governor.
- Article VI establishes the judicial branch and creates the various court systems.
- Article VII concerns government at a local level.
- Article VIII establishes the public school system and also deals with some institutions of higher education.
- Article IX describes the taxation process.
- Article X is entitled property.
- Article XI concerns public officers and their employment.
- Article XII describes the process for amending the state constitution.
- The Schedule has temporary provisions to ease the transition from territory to state.
Amending the constitution
The Michigan Constitution can be amended in these three ways:
- Through a legislatively-referred constitutional amendment as established in Section 2 of Article XII. These can be proposed in either chamber of the Michigan State Legislature. Proposed amendments must be agreed to by 2/3rds of the members elected to and serving in each house.
- Through an initiated constitutional amendment as established in Section 2 of Article XII.
- Through a constitutional convention as established in Section 3 of Article XII. A question about whether to hold a constitutional convention is to automatically appear on the state's ballot every sixteen years.
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