Twenty states in the U.S. have the township form of government. Approximately 44 percent of Michigan's population, or more than 4 million people, live in a township. State law specifies how township boards are to be organized, the duties of each official and their powers. Some townships provide additional services, such as street lighting, water and sewer service, garbage collections, solid waste disposal, police and fire protection, ambulance and emergency medical services and various recreational facilities, as provided for by state law.
All officials have an equal vote and voice in township board affairs.
Township officials are elected to serve four-year terms that expire in presidential election years. Township government takes two separate forms in Michigan, general law and charter. As of August 1996, there are 124 charter townships. General law townships are required to hold board meetings at least quarterly, and charter townships are required to meet at least monthly. Michigan's total land area is more than 36 million acres.