
TUTORIAL | mcrp originals
Guides directly based on Michigan Election Law (MCL)
THE CHARTER TOWNSHIP ACT
Act 359 of 1947
LEGAL BASIS
Primary Law Governing Townships:
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Michigan Township Act 359 of 1947 (a/k/a the Charter Township Act)
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Michigan General Law Village Act (for some hybrid areas)
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Michigan Election Law – Act 116 of 1954
Types of Townships:
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General Law Township – default type; limited home rule.
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Charter Township – more powers; can prevent annexation by cities.
Every Michigan county is divided into townships unless incorporated into cities.
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OUTLINE OF TOWNSHIP GOVERNANCE IN MICHIGAN
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1. Structure of Township Government
Each township has an elected township board typically consisting of:
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Supervisor (chief executive & sometimes assessor)
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Clerk (elections, records, notices, meeting minutes)
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Treasurer (collects taxes, handles money)
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2 to 4 Trustees (vote on policies, support governance)
Charter Townships may also have additional appointed or elected officials and planning commissions.
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2. Elections & Terms of Office
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Election Timing: Every even-numbered year in August and November (per MCL 168.641)
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Terms: Most township officials serve 4-year terms
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Elected at November general election in presidential years
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Non-partisan Ballot: Township elections are partisan unless a local charter specifies otherwise.
Vacancies are filled by township board appointment until the next election (MCL 168.370).
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3. Township Duties and Responsibilities
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Local Ordinances (zoning, noise, building)
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Roads (in cooperation with county road commission)
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Fire and Police Protection
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Elections and Voting Administration
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Tax Assessment and Collection
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Land Use Planning (via Planning Commissions)
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Cemetery & Park Maintenance
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Water & Sewer (if applicable)
Townships operate with limited home rule unless they adopt a charter form.
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4. Charter Township Distinction
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Prevents annexation from cities
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More administrative powers
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May hire a manager to run day-to-day operations
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Must meet population, infrastructure, and service benchmarks to qualify
See MCL 42.1 – 42.34 for the full Charter Township Act
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5. Funding & Budgeting
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Primarily through property taxes
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Can levy additional millages, if approved by voters
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Some receive state revenue sharing
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Required to prepare and adopt an annual budget
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6. Oversight and Transparency
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Must follow Open Meetings Act (OMA) and Freedom of Information Act (FOIA)
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Must hold public meetings and publish meeting minutes
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Required to hold budget hearings annually
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MACOMB COUNTY AND CITY COUNCIL ROLES
Note: Cities and townships are different legal entities. City councils are city-level, not township-level.
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How Macomb County Deals with City Councils (Separately from Townships)
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Macomb County contains 27 municipalities, including townships, cities, and villages.
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Each city council (e.g., Sterling Heights, Warren) operates independently of Macomb County government.
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The Macomb County Board of Commissioners is the county's legislative body, overseeing:
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County budget
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County roads and public services
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County-wide departments (Sheriff, Prosecutor, Clerk, etc.)
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City Councils manage internal city operations: ordinances, zoning, police/fire, budgets.
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County has no authority over how cities run their council, only interaction is via services or elections.
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KEY LEGAL REFERENCES
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Township General Law: MCL 41.1a et seq.
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Charter Townships: MCL 42.1–42.34
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Election Law: MCL 168.1 et seq.
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Open Meetings Act: MCL 15.261–15.275
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FOIA: MCL 15.231–15.246