CRC's Examines Ballot Issues in Anticipation of November 8 Election
The Proposed Detroit City Charter
Memo 1110 ( October 2011 ) 18 pages
Voters in Detroit will have the opportunity to approve or reject a proposed new city charter on November 8. Citizens Research Council of Michigan is pleased to announce publication of its description and analysis of the proposed charter, The Proposed City of Detroit Charter.
City charters establish the basic structure of the municipal government and define critical processes of elections, budgeting, accounting, and planning, within constraints established in state law. Charters may also mandate city departments and programs. The challenge inherent in charter development is achieving the proper balance between the relatively permanent charter mandates and the latitude needed by local officials to make government efficient, effective, and responsive under changing conditions.
Under the proposal, the city would be divided into seven districts or wards, which would be the basis for election of seven of the nine City Council members; the two other City Council members would be elected at-large. The seven non at-large districts would be the basis for the election of seven of the 11 members of the Board of Police Commissioners, and for appointments to a variety of boards and commissions. City Council members would elect the Council president and president pro tempore from among their members, and Council would gain the authority to approve additional Mayoral appointments.
Ethics provisions are more extensive and the specific grounds for forfeiture of elected and appointed offices are defined in the proposal, as is the process which City Council would use to remove an elected or appointed official. A debarment process for vendors and contractors that violate rules is also provided in the proposed charter.
A new branch of city government called "Independent Departments and Offices" would include the Auditor General, Law Department, a new Inspector General, and the Ombudsperson. All of these agencies would be responsible for aspects of oversight, as would the City Council, the Risk Management Council, and others.
Voting Information
Election Day: November 8, 2011
Michigan Secretary of State's Information for Voters
Information about registering to vote, absentee voting, election officials, and state law.
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The Ballot Proposal Process in Michigan: A Synopsis
There are four methods whereby a proposal can be placed on the statewide ballot in Michigan: (1) statutory initiative, (2) voter referendum, (3) legislative referendum, and (4) constitutional amendment.
STATUTORY INITIATIVE is defined by Section 9 of Article 2 of the Michigan Constitution as the power which the people reserve to themselves "to propose laws and to enact and reject laws." The power of initiative extends to any law the Legislature may enact and is invoked by filing petitions containing signatures of registered voters equal in number to at least eight percent of the total votes cast in the last election for governor. The Legislature is required to enact, without modification, or reject any proposed initiative within 40 session days. An initiative not enacted by the Legislature is placed on the statewide ballot at the next general election. A law that is initiated or adopted by the people is not subject to gubernatorial veto and one adopted by voters cannot subsequently be amended or repealed except by the voters or by a three-fourths vote of the Legislature.
VOTER REFERENDUM is defined by Section 9 of Article 2 of the Michigan Constitution as the power "to approve and reject laws enacted by the legislature." Referendum must be invoked, within 90 days of final adjournment of the legislative session during which the law in question was enacted, by filing petitions containing signatures of registered voters equal in number to at least five percent of the total votes cast for governor in the last general election. The effect of invoking a referendum is to suspend the law in question until voters approve or reject it at the next general election.
LEGISLATIVE REFERENDUM is authorized by Section 34 of Article 4 of the Michigan Constitution, which provides that "[a]ny bill passed by the legislature and approved by the governor, except a bill appropriating money, may provide that it will not become law unless approved by a majority of the electors voting thereon."
CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT is authorized by Sections 1 and 2 of Article 12 of the Michigan Constitution and may be proposed either by a two-thirds vote of the Legislature or by filing petitions containing signatures of registered voters equal in number to at least ten percent of the total votes cast for governor in the last general election.
The question of CONSTITUTIONAL REVISION is required by Section 3 of Article XII of the Michigan Constitution to appear on the ballot automatically every 16 years after 1978.
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Last Updated October 13, 2011
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