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For the People, by the People

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For the People, by the People H HOW STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS OPERATE For the People By the People Citizen participation is an essential component of any democratic government. Leaders require input and feedback from the public to enact policies consistent with the will of the people, but information about the public’s wishes does not always make it to the people in power. In many cases, communication between the public and their elected leaders is limited by citizens’ uncertainty about the way government operates or the most effective means of sharing information with their representatives. Knowing who is responsible for particular aspects of public policy and how to contact them is important for anyone who wants to impact the process. This booklet provides an overview of state and local governments. There is a brief description of each branch of our state government (legislative, executive, and judicial) and a brief explanation of how each branch operates. There is also an explanation of how ideas turn into bills and become laws, in addition to a glossary of common legislative terms. Another section of this booklet offers advice about how to contact your state legislator and other government officials and set your comments apart from the rest. The section on local government gives a description of local financing and explains the functions of county, city, township, and village government. It also discusses special districts and authorities and school districts in order to provide an explanation of these operations. There is also a section in the back of the booklet for you to record names, addresses, phone numbers, and email addresses of your own U.S., state, and local government officials. Hopefully, this booklet provides information that will allow you to communicate more effectively with your elected representatives. For the People By the People How State and Local Governments Operate Prepared by the Michigan Legislature This information is provided free to Michigan citizens and is not for reproduction for resale or profit. (Rev. 9/2019) TABLE OF CONTENTS STATE GOVERNMENT THE LEGISLATIVE BRANCH State Government ............................................................................................. 1 The Legislator’s Responsibilities ..................................................................... 2 Officers of the Michigan Senate ...................................................................... 4 Officers of the Michigan House of Representatives ........................................ 5 The Legislative Process ................................................................................... 6 Glossary of Legislative Terms ......................................................................... 8 How a Bill Becomes a Law ............................................................................. 10 Helpful Hints for Contacting Your State Legislator ........................................ 13 THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH Organization Chart ........................................................................................... 18 Duties of the Governor and Lieutenant Governor ........................................... 18 State Departments and Agencies ..................................................................... 20 THE JUDICIAL BRANCH Organization Chart ........................................................................................... 27 Appellate Courts .............................................................................................. 27 Supreme Court ......................................................................................... 27 Court of Appeals ...................................................................................... 27 Trial Courts ...................................................................................................... 28 Circuit Court ............................................................................................ 28 Court of Claims ........................................................................................ 28 Probate Court ........................................................................................... 28 District Court ........................................................................................... 28 Municipal Court ....................................................................................... 28 LOCAL GOVERNMENT IN MICHIGAN County Government ......................................................................................... 29 Township Government ..................................................................................... 30 City Government .............................................................................................. 30 Village Government ......................................................................................... 31 Special Districts and Authorities ..................................................................... 31 School Districts ................................................................................................ 32 Local Financing ............................................................................................... 33 WHO TO CONTACT Directory .......................................................................................................... 34 STATE GOVERNMENT State government is a complex network of agencies and offices. Understanding how the branches of government and their internal agencies fit together is important for anyone who wishes to utilize government services or contribute to the policy making process. To assist in grasping the overall organization of Michigan state government, we have assembled this description of the principal units of each of the three branches of government. This division of government into executive, judicial, and legislative branches mirrors the federal government’s organization. The concept of three distinct co-equal elements of government, adopted in Article III, Section 2 of the Con sti tu tion of the State of Michigan of 1963, is designed to provide for the separation of powers which is so vital to our system of self-rule. By dividing the vast power of government into three co-equal and independent responsibilities, each branch of government can serve as a check on the other two, preventing any one branch from undermining the freedoms of the public. In looking at the functions and responsibilities of the units of the three branches, one can appreciate, in a broad sense, how this system of checks and balances is put into effect. We hope this information will assist you in your dealings with and understanding of state government. Although this section is not intended to present a comprehensive account of all of the functions of state government, it can help you to better understand the offices and agencies through which the people of Michigan govern themselves. The legislative (law-making) power of the State of Mich i gan is vested in the Legislature, a bicameral (two-chamber) body comprised of a Senate and a House of Repre sen ta tives. The Senate is made up of 38 members elected by the voters in each senatorial district. Sen a tors are elected at the same time as the Governor and serve four-year terms. A person cannot be elected to serve as a Senator for more that two full terms. The House of Repre sen ta tives consists of 110 members elected by the voters in each representative district. Rep re sen ta tives are elected in even-numbered years to serve two-year terms. A person cannot be elected to serve as a Representative for more than three full terms. Terms 1 for Senators and Repre sen ta tives begin on the first day of Janu ary following the No vem ber general elec tion. Legislative districts are drawn on the basis of pop u la tion figures obtained through the federal ten-year census. This is to insure that each person’s vote is weighed as much as anyone else’s. The Legislature enacts the laws of Michi gan; levies taxes and appropriates funds from money collected for the support of public institutions and the administration of the affairs of state government; pro pos es amendments to the State Consti tu tion, which must be approved by a majority vote of the voters; and can exercise a number of options when presented with legislation pro posed by initiatory petitions, including adopting it or offering the voters an alternative. The Legislature exercises legislative oversight over the executive branch of government through work on the administrative rules and audit pro cess es, com mit tees, and the bud get; ad vis es and con sents, through the Senate, on certain gubernatorial appointments; and consid ers pro posed amend ments to the Con sti tu tion of the United States. The majority of the Legislature’s work, however, involves lawmaking. The Legislature considers thousands of bills (proposed laws) each two-year term through a process defined by the State Constitution, as well as by statutes and legislative rules. THE LEGISLATOR’S RESPONSIBILITIES Once elected, what are the re spon si bil i ties, of fi cial functions, and powers of state legislators? In 1966, Senate Resolution 135 authorized, with the Governor’s partic i pa tion, the appointment of a Special Commission on Legislative Com pen sa tion. This commission analyzed the re spon si bil i ties of a legislator. The following is a summary of many of those responsibilities: • Prepares and leg is lates for a pro gram de rived from a va ri ety of sourc es, in clud ing the district, the com mit tees on which he or she serves,
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