Contact: Eric Lupher
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CRC's Con-Con Series Covers Michigan's Constitutional History

The second in the Citizens Research Council of Michigan's series of papers about state constitutional issues focuses on Michigan's constitutional history. The people of Michigan have adopted four constitutions (1835, 1850, 1908 and 1963), have rejected two (1867 and 1873) and failed to approve the calling of a convention on 11 occasions (most recently in 1994).

A Brief Michigan Constitutional History describes the successful and unsuccessful votes to convene constitutional conventions and approve revised constitutions. It also compares the issues that led to a successful convening and revision of the constitution in the early 1960s to the issues voters are likely to consider in deciding this year's question.

"It is likely that Michigan would have had more frequent revisions to the constitution except for requirements for extraordinary majorities needed to convene constitutional conventions," said Eric Lupher, CRC's Director of Local Affairs. "From 1850 until 1960, calling a convention required approval of a majority of those voting at the election and not just a majority of those voting on the question. In effect, failure to vote on the ballot question was counted as a vote against the calling of a convention under this provision. Several votes in the 1940s and 1950s gained a majority of votes on the issue, but not a majority of those voting at the election."

"Many issues that were at the forefront for voters deciding to call a constitutional convention in 1961 remain issues that are likely to be discussed if a convention is convened in 2011," said CRC's president, Jeffrey Guilfoyle. "Apportionment, judicial selection, and tax and spending limitations are just a few examples of recurring issues."

At the November 2, 2010 general election, the voters of Michigan will decide whether to call a constitutional convention to revise the 1963 Michigan Constitution. The question appears on the ballot automatically every 16 years as required by the Constitution. The Constitution provides that a convention would convene in Lansing on October 4, 2011. If the question is rejected, it will automatically appear on the ballot again in the year 2026.

A Brief Michigan Constitutional History can be accessed at www.crcmich.org/PUBLICAT/2010s/2010/rpt36002.html. The series of constitutional issues papers is being released on roughly a bi-weekly schedule and can be accessed at www.crcmich.org/election.

The Citizens Research Council of Michigan is a private, nonprofit public affairs research organization, founded in 1916 to analyze issues pertaining to state and local government organization and finance in Michigan.