Article III, Michigan Constitution

Michigan Constitution
Preamble
Articles
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Article III of the Michigan Constitution is entitled General Government and consists of eight sections.

Section 1

	Text of Section 1: Seat of Government The seat of government shall be at Lansing.

History: Const. 1963, Art. III, §1, Eff. Jan. 1, 1964. Former Constitution: See Const. 1908, Art. I, §2.

Section 2

	Text of Section 2: Separation of Powers of Government The powers of government are divided into three branches; legislative, executive and judicial. No person exercising powers of one branch shall exercise powers properly belonging to another branch except as expressly provided in this constitution.

History: Const. 1963, Art. III, §2, Eff. Jan. 1, 1964. Former Constitution: See Const. 1908, Art. IV, §2.

Section 3

	Text of Section 3: Great Seal There shall be a great seal of the State of Michigan and its use shall be provided by law.

History: Const. 1963, Art. III, §3, Eff. Jan. 1, 1964. Former Constitution: See Const. 1908, Art. VI, §§11, 12.

Section 4

	Text of Section 4: Militia The militia shall be organized, equipped and disciplined as provided by law.

History: Const. 1963, Art. III, §4, Eff. Jan. 1, 1964. Former Constitution: See Const. 1908, Art. XV, §§1-3.

Section 5

Text of Section 5: Intergovernmental Agreements; Service by Public Officers and Employees Subject to provisions of general law, this state or any political subdivision thereof, any governmental authority or any combination thereof may enter into agreements for the performance, financing or execution of their respective functions, with any one or more of the other states, the United States, the Dominion of Canada, or any political subdivision thereof unless otherwise provided in this constitution. Any other provision of this constitution notwithstanding, an officer or employee of the state or of any such unit of government or subdivision or agency thereof may serve on or with any governmental body established for the purposes set forth in this section and shall not be required to relinquish his office or employment by reason of such service. The legislature may impose such restrictions, limitations or conditions on such service as it may deem appropriate.

History: Const. 1963, Art. III, §5, Eff. Jan. 1, 1964.

Section 6

	Text of Section 6: Internal Improvements The state shall not be a party to, nor be financially interested in, any work of internal improvement, nor engage in carrying on any such work, except for public internal improvements provided by law.

History: Const. 1963, Art. III, §6, Eff. Jan. 1, 1964. Former Constitution: See Const. 1908, Art. X, §14.

Section 7

	Text of Section 7: Common Law and Statutes, Continuance The common law and the statute laws now in force, not repugnant to this constitution, shall remain in force until they expire by their own limitations, or are changed, amended or repealed.

History: Const. 1963, Art. III, §7, Eff. Jan. 1, 1964. Former Constitution: See Const. 1908, Schedule, §1.

Section 8

	Text of Section 8: Opinions on Constitutionality by Supreme Court Either house of the legislature or the governor may request the opinion of the supreme court on important questions of law upon solemn occasions as to the constitutionality of legislation after it has been enacted into law but before its effective date.

History: Const. 1963, Art. III, §8, Eff. Jan. 1, 1964.

See also

• State constitution
• Constitutional article
• Constitutional amendment
• Constitutional revision
• Constitutional convention
• Amendments
  • Initiated constitutional amendment
  • Legislatively-referred constitutional amendment
  • Publication requirements for proposed state constitutional amendments
  • Rules about constitutional conventions in state constitutions
  • State constitutional articles governing state legislatures

External links

Suggest a link

• Michigan State Legislature, "Michigan Constitution"
• Michigan State Legislature, "Michigan Constitution of 1908"
• Michigan State Legislature, "Michigan Constitution of 1850"
• Michigan State Legislature, "Michigan Constitution of 1835"
• Michigan State Legislature, "Ordinance of 1787"

Additional reading

• UDM Law, "History of the Michigan Constitution"
• Fino, Susan P. (1996). The Michigan State Constitution: A Reference Guide, Westport, Connecticut: Greenwood Press
• Michigan Bar.org, "The Michigan Constitution: An Independent Source of Legal Rights"