The Michigan Constitution
We, the people of the State of Michigan, grateful to Almighty God for the blessings of freedom, and earnestly desiring to secure these blessings undiminished to ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and establish this constitution.
Section 1
Political power
Section 2
Equal protection; discrimination
Section 3
Assembly, consultation, instruction, petition
Section 4
Freedom of worship and religious belief; appropriations
Section 5
Freedom of speech and of press
Section 6
Bearing of arms
Section 7
Military power subordinate to civil power
Section 8
Quartering of soldiers
Section 9
Slavery and involuntary servitude
Section 10
Attainder; ex post facto laws; impairment of contracts
Section 11
Last Amended
2020
Searches and seizures
Section 12
Habeas corpus
Section 13
Conduct of suits in person or by counsel
Section 14
Jury trials
Section 15
Last Amended
1979
Double jeopardy; bailable offenses; commencement of trial if bail denied; bail hearing; effective date
Section 16
Bail; fines; punishments; detention of witnesses
Section 17
Self-incrimination; due process of law; fair treatment at investigations
Section 18
Witnesses; competency, religious beliefs
Section 19
Libels, truth as defense
Section 20
Last Amended
1994
Rights of accused in criminal prosecutions
Section 21
Imprisonment for debt
Section 22
Treason; definition, evidence
Section 23
Enumeration of rights not to deny others
Section 24
Last Amended
1988
Rights of crime victims; enforcement; assessment against convicted defendants
Section 25
Last Amended
2004
Union of one man and one woman as only agreement recognized as marriage or similar union
Section 26
Last Amended
2006
Affirmative Action
Section 27
Last Amended
2008
Human embryo and embryonic stem cell research
Section 28
Last Amended
2022
Right to reproductive freedom
Section 1
Qualifications of electors; residence
Section 2
Mental incompetence; imprisonment
Section 3
Presidential electors; residence
Section 4
Last Amended
2022
Place and manner of elections
Section 5
Time of elections
Section 6
Voters on tax limit increases or bond issues
Section 7
Last Amended
2022
Boards of canvassers
Section 8
Recalls
Section 9
Initiative and referendum; limitations; appropriations; petitions
Section 10
Last Amended
1992
Limitations on terms of office of members of the United States House of Representatives and United States Senate from Michigan
Section 1
Seat of government
Section 2
Separation of powers of government
Section 3
Great seal
Section 4
Militia
Section 5
Intergovernmental agreements; service by public officers and employees
Section 6
Internal improvements
Section 7
Common law and statutes, continuance
Section 8
Opinions on constitutionality by supreme court
Section 1
Last Amended
2018
Legislative power
Section 2
Last Amended
2018
Senators, number, term
Section 3
Last Amended
2018
Representatives, number, term; contiguity of districts
Section 4
Repealed
2018
Annexation or merger with a city
Section 5
Repealed
2018
Island areas, contiguity
Section 6
Last Amended
2018
Independent citizens redistricting commission for state legislative and congressional districts
Section 7
Legislators; qualifications, removal from district
Section 8
Ineligibility of government officers and employees
Section 9
Civil appointments, ineligibility of legislators
Section 10
Last Amended
2022
Conflicts of interest; financial disclosure reports
Section 11
Last Amended
1982
Legislators privileged from civil arrest and civil process; limitation; questioning for speech in either house prohibited
Section 12
Last Amended
2002
State officers compensation commission
Section 13
Legislature; time of convening, sine die adjournment, measures carried over
Section 14
Quorum; powers of less than quorum
Section 15
Legislative council
Section 16
Legislature; officers, rules of procedure, expulsion of members
Section 17
Committees; record of votes, public inspection, notice of hearings
Section 18
Journal of proceedings; record of votes, dissents
Section 19
Record of votes on elections and advice and consent
Section 20
Open meetings
Section 21
Adjournments, limitations
Section 22
Bills
Section 23
Style of laws
Section 24
Laws; object, title, amendments changing purpose
Section 25
Revision and amendment of laws; title references, publication of entire sections
Section 26
Bills; printing, possession, reading, vote on passage
Section 27
Laws, effective date
Section 28
Bills, subjects at special session
Section 29
Local or special acts
Section 30
Appropriations; local or private purposes
Section 31
General appropriation bills; priority, statement of estimated revenue
Section 32
Laws imposing taxes
Section 33
Bills passed; approval by governor or veto, reconsideration by legislature
Section 34
Bills, referendum
Section 35
Publication and distribution of laws and judicial decisions
Section 36
General revision of laws; compilation of laws
Section 37
Administrative rules, suspension by legislative committee
Section 38
Vacancies in office
Section 39
Continuity of government in emergencies
Section 40
Last Amended
1978
Alcoholic beverages; age requirement; liquor control commission; excise tax; local option
Section 41
Last Amended
2004
Lotteries
Section 42
Ports and port districts; incorporation, internal
Section 43
Bank and trust company laws
Section 44
Trial by jury in civil cases
Section 45
Indeterminate sentences
Section 46
Death penalty
Section 47
Chaplains in state institutions
Section 48
Disputes concerning public employees
Section 49
Hours and conditions of employment
Section 50
Atomic and new forms of energy
Section 51
Public health and general welfare
Section 52
Natural resources; conservation, pollution, impairment, destruction
Section 53
Auditor general; appointment, qualifications, term, removal, post audits
Section 54
Last Amended
2022
Limitation on terms of office
Section 1
Last Amended
2018
Executive power
Section 2
Last Amended
2018
Principal departments
Section 3
Single heads of departments; appointment, term
Section 4
Last Amended
2018
Commissions or agencies for less than 2 years
Section 5
Examining or licensing board members, qualifications
Section 6
Advice and consent to appointments
Section 7
Vacancies in office; filling, senatorial disapproval of appointees
Section 8
Principal departments, supervision of governor; information from state officers
Section 9
Principal departments, location
Section 10
Removal or suspension of officers; grounds, report
Section 11
Provisional appointments to fill vacancies due to suspension
Section 12
Military powers
Section 13
Elections to fill vacancies in legislature
Section 14
Reprieves, commutations and pardons
Section 15
Extra sessions of legislature
Section 16
Legislature other than at seat of government
Section 17
Messages and recommendations to legislature
Section 18
Budget; general and deficiency appropriation bills
Section 19
Disapproval of items in appropriation bills
Section 20
Reductions in expenditures
Section 21
State elective executive officers; term, election
Section 22
Governor and lieutenant governor, qualifications
Section 23
State elective executive officers, compensation
Section 24
Executive residence
Section 25
Lieutenant governor; president of senate, tie vote, duties
Section 26
Succession to governorship
Section 27
Salary of successor
Section 28
Last Amended
1978
State transportation commission; establishment; purpose; appointment, qualifications, and terms of members; director of state transportation department
Section 29
Civil rights commission; members, term, duties, appropriation
Section 30
Last Amended
1992
Limitations on terms of executive officers
Section 1
Last Amended
2018
Judicial power in court of justice; divisions
Section 2
Justices of the supreme court; number, term, nomination, election
Section 3
Chief justice; court administrator; other assistants
Section 4
Last Amended
2018
General superintending control over courts; writs; appellate jurisdiction
Section 5
Court rules; distinctions between law and equity; master in chancery
Section 6
Decisions and dissents; writing, contents
Section 7
Staff; budget; salaries of justices; fees
Section 8
Court of appeals; election of judges, divisions
Section 9
Judges of court of appeals, terms
Section 10
Jurisdiction, practice and procedure of court of appeals
Section 11
Circuit courts; judicial circuits, sessions, number of judges
Section 12
Circuit judges; nomination, election, term
Section 13
Circuit courts; jurisdiction, writs, supervisory control over inferior courts
Section 14
County clerks; duties, vacancies; prosecuting attorneys, vacancies
Section 15
Probate courts; districts, jurisdiction
Section 16
Probate judges; nomination, election, terms
Section 17
Judicial salaries and fees
Section 18
Salaries; uniformity, changes during term
Section 19
Last Amended
1996
Courts of record; seal, qualifications of judges
Section 20
Last Amended
1968
Removal of domicile of judge
Section 21
Ineligibility for other office
Section 22
Last Amended
1968
Incumbent judges, affidavit of candidacy
Section 23
Last Amended
1968
Judicial vacancies, filling; appointee, term; successor; new offices
Section 24
Last Amended
1968
Incumbent judges, ballot designation
Section 25
Removal of judges from office
Section 26
Circuit court commissioners and justices of the peace, abolition; courts of limited jurisdiction
Section 27
Power of appointment to public office
Section 28
Administrative action, review
Section 29
Conservators of the peace
Section 30
Last Amended
1968
Judicial tenure commission; selection; terms; duties; power of supreme court
Section 1
Counties; corporate character, powers and immunities
Section 2
County charters
Section 3
Reduction of size of county
Section 4
County officers; terms, combination
Section 5
Offices at county seat
Section 6
Sheriffs; security, responsibility for acts, ineligibility for other office
Section 7
Boards of supervisors; members
Section 8
Legislative, administrative, and other powers and duties of boards
Section 9
Compensation of county officers
Section 10
Removal of county seat
Section 11
Indebtedness, limitation
Section 12
Navigable streams, permission to bridge or dam
Section 13
Consolidation of counties, approval by electors
Section 14
Organization and consolidation of townships
Section 15
County intervention in public utility service and rate proceedings
Section 16
Highways, bridges, culverts, airports; road tax limitation
Section 17
Townships; corporate character, powers and immunities
Section 18
Township officers; term, powers and duties
Section 19
Township public utility franchises
Section 20
Townships, dissolution; villages as cities
Section 21
Cities and villages; incorporation, taxes, indebtedness
Section 22
Charters, resolutions, ordinances; enumeration of powers
Section 23
Parks, boulevards, cemeteries, hospitals
Section 24
Public service facilities
Section 25
Public utilities; acquisition, franchises, sale
Section 26
Cities and villages, loan of credit
Section 27
Metropolitan governments and authorities
Section 28
Governmental functions and powers; joint administration, costs and credits, transfers
Section 29
Highways, streets, alleys, public places; control, use by public utilities
Section 30
Franchises and licenses, duration
Section 31
Vacation or alteration of roads, streets, alleys, public places
Section 32
Budgets, public hearing
Section 33
Removal of elected officers
Section 34
Construction of constitution and law concerning counties, townships, cities, villages
Section 1
Encouragement of education
Section 2
Last Amended
1970
Free public elementary and secondary schools; discrimination
Section 3
State board of education; duties
Section 4
Higher education institutions; appropriations, accounting, public sessions of boards
Section 5
University of Michigan, Michigan State University, Wayne State University; controlling boards
Section 6
Other institutions of higher education, controlling boards
Section 7
Community and junior colleges; state board, members, terms, vacancies
Section 8
Last Amended
1998
Services for disabled persons
Section 9
Public libraries, fines
Section 1
Taxes for state expenses
Section 2
Power of taxation, relinquishment
Section 3
Last Amended
1994
Property taxation; uniformity; assessments; limitations; classes; approval of legislature
Section 4
Exemption of religious or educational nonprofit organizations
Section 5
Last Amended
1994
Assessment of property of public service businesses
Section 6
Last Amended
1978
Real and tangible personal property; limitation on general ad valorem taxes; adoption and alteration of separate tax limitations; exceptions to limitations; property tax on school district extending into 2 or more counties
Section 7
Income tax
Section 8
Last Amended
1994
Sales and use taxes
Section 9
Last Amended
1978
Use of specific taxes on fuels for transportation purposes; authorization of indebtedness and issuance of obligations
Section 10
Last Amended
1994
Sales tax; distribution to local governments
Section 11
Last Amended
1994
State school aid fund; source; distribution; guarantee to local school district
Section 12
Evidence of state indebtedness
Section 13
Public bodies, borrowing power
Section 14
State borrowing; short term
Section 15
Long term borrowing by state
Section 16
State loans to school districts
Section 17
Payments from state treasury
Section 18
State credit
Section 19
Last Amended
2002
Subscription to or interest in stock by state prohibited; exceptions
Section 20
Last Amended
1978
Deposit of state money in certain financial institutions; requirements
Section 21
Accounting for public moneys
Section 22
Examination and adjustment of claims against state
Section 23
Financial records; statement of revenues and expenditures
Section 24
Public pension plans and retirement systems, obligation
Section 25
Last Amended
1978
Voter approval of increased local taxes; prohibitions; emergency conditions; repayment of bonded indebtedness guaranteed; implementation of section
Section 26
Last Amended
1978
Limitation on taxes; revenue limit; refunding or transferring excess revenues; exceptions to revenue limitation; adjustment of state revenue and spending limits
Section 27
Last Amended
1978
Exceeding revenue limit; conditions
Section 28
Last Amended
1978
Limitation on expenses of state government
Section 29
Last Amended
1978
State financing of activities or services required of local government by state law
Section 30
Last Amended
1978
Reduction of state spending paid to units of local government
Section 31
Last Amended
1978
Levying tax or increasing rate of existing tax; maximum tax rate on new base; increase in assessed valuation of property; exceptions to limitations
Section 32
Last Amended
1978
Suit to enforce sections 25 to 31
Section 33
Last Amended
1978
Definitions applicable to sections 25 to 32
Section 34
Last Amended
1978
Implementation of sections 25 to 33
Section 35
Last Amended
2020
Michigan natural resources trust fund
Section 35a
Last Amended
2020
Michigan state parks endowment fund
Section 36
Last Amended
1994
Tax on tobacco products; dedication of proceeds, improvement of health care quality
Section 37
Last Amended
2002
Michigan veterans' trust fund; establishment; appropriations
Section 38
Last Amended
1996
Michigan veterans' trust fund; board of trustees; establishment
Section 39
Last Amended
1996
Michigan veterans' trust fund; board of trustees; duty; expenditures or transfers
Section 40
Last Amended
2006
Michigan conservation and recreation legacy fund
Section 41
Last Amended
2006
Michigan game and fish protection trust fund
Section 42
Last Amended
2006
Michigan nongame fish and wildlife trust fund
Section 1
Oath of public officers
Section 2
Terms of office of state and county officers
Section 3
Extra compensation
Section 4
Custodian of public moneys; eligibility to office, accounting
Section 5
Last Amended
1978
Classified state civil service; scope; exempted positions; appointment and terms of members of state civil service commission; state personnel director; duties of commission; collective bargaining for state police troopers and sergeants; appointments, promotions, demotions, or removals; increases or reductions in compensation; creating or abolishing positions; recommending compensation for unclassified service; appropriation; reports of expenditures; annual audit; payment for personal services; violation; injunctive or mandamus proceedings.
Section 6
Merit systems for local governments
Section 7
Impeachment of civil officers
Section 8
Last Amended
2010
Disqualification; felony conviction for dishonesty, deceit, fraud, or breach of public trust
To insure the orderly transition from the constitution of 1908 to this constitution the following schedule and temporary provisions are set forth to be effective for such period as are thereby required.
Section 1
Recommendations by attorney general for changes in laws
Section 2
Existing public and private rights, continuance
Section 3
Officers, continuance in office
Section 4
Officers elected in spring of 1963, term
Section 5
State elective executive officers and senators, 2 and 4 year terms
Section 6
Supreme court, reduction to 7 justices
Section 7
Judges of probate, eligibility for re-election
Section 8
Judicial officers, staggered terms
Section 9
State board of education; first election, terms
Section 10
Boards controlling higher education institutions and state board of public community and junior colleges, terms
Section 11
Michigan State University trustees and Wayne State University governors, terms
Section 12
Initial allocation of departments by law or executive order
Section 13
State contracts, continuance
Section 14
Mackinac Bridge Authority; refunding of bonds, transfer of functions to highway department
Section 15
Submission of constitution; time, notice
Section 16