Michigan Proposal 3, Declare Subversion a Crime and Restrict Free Speech Defense Amendment (1950)

Michigan Proposal 3
Election date November 7, 1950
Topic Criminal sentencing and Criminal trials
Status Approved
Type Legislatively referred constitutional amendment	Origin State legislature

Michigan Proposal 3 was on the ballot as a legislatively referred constitutional amendment in Michigan on November 7, 1950. It was approved.

A “yes” vote supported this constitutional amendment to: define subversion as actions or advocacy aimed at overthrowing the state or U.S. government by force, violence, or unlawful means and make subversion a crime and prohibit using free speech or free press as a defense in subversion trials.

A “no” vote opposed this constitutional amendment to:  define subversion as actions or advocacy aimed at overthrowing the state or U.S. government by force, violence, or unlawful means and make subversion a crime and prohibit using free speech or free press as a defense in subversion trials.

Election results

Michigan Proposal 3
Result		Votes	Percentage
Yes		823,938	61.29%
No		520,412	38.71%

Results are officially certified.

Source

Text of measure

Ballot title

The ballot title for Proposal 3 was as follows:

“

(Proposal No. 3) PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO ARTICLE 2 OF THE STATE CONSTITUTION BY ADDING A NEW SECTION THERETO RELATIVE TO AND DEFINING SUBVERSION. No. 3 A Joint Resolution proposing an amendment to Article 2 of the State Constitution relative to and defining subversion, declaring the same to be a crime against the state punishable by any penalty provided by law and limiting defense in trials for subversion, said section to stand as Section 22. Shall Article 2 of the State Constitution be amended by adding a new section thereto? Yes No

”

Path to the ballot

See also: Amending the Michigan Constitution

A two-thirds vote is required during one legislative session for the Michigan State Legislature to place a constitutional amendment on the ballot. That amounts to a minimum of 74 votes in the Michigan House of Representatives and 26 votes in the Michigan State Senate, assuming no vacancies. Amendments do not require the governor's signature to be referred to the ballot.

See also

1950 Measures

• 1950 Measures
• Criminal sentencing on the ballot
• Criminal trials on the ballot
• 1950 legislative sessions

Michigan

• Michigan ballot measures
• Michigan ballot measure laws

News and analysis

• Ballot measure lawsuits
• Ballot measure readability
• Ballot measure polls

External links

• State of Michigan, "Michigan Official Directory and Legislative Manual," 1951
• The Herald-Palladium, "Official Instruction Ballot For Berrien County Election Nov. 7," November 4, 1950