Opinion ID: 6320313
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: direct democracy in michigan

Text: Although Michigan primarily follows the republican form of representative lawmaking, 15 it also contains important aspects of direct democracy; that is, the people’s power to bring matters of public policy directly to the people for a vote. Three forms of direct democracy are at issue this appeal: the initiative and the referendum, in the legislative context, and the ability to propose amendments to the Michigan Constitution. 16 The people’s power to propose new laws by petition (the initiative) and to approve or reject laws enacted by the Legislature (the referendum) is preserved in Const 1963, art 2, § 9, which provides, in relevant part: The people reserve to themselves the power to propose laws and to enact and reject laws, called the initiative, and the power to approve or reject laws enacted by the legislature, called the referendum. The power of initiative extends only to laws which the legislature may enact under this constitution. The power of referendum does not extend to acts making appropriations for state institutions or to meet deficiencies in state funds and must be invoked in the manner prescribed by law within 90 days following the final adjournment of the legislative session at which the law was enacted. To invoke the initiative or referendum, petitions signed by a number of registered electors, not less than eight percent for initiative and five percent 15 Const 1963, art 4, § 1 (“[T]he legislative power of the State of Michigan is vested in a senate and a house of representatives.”). 16 Twenty-five states currently have some degree of direct democracy, Michigan being 1 of 15 states to permit initiatives, referendums, and voter-initiated constitutional amendments. See National Conference of State Legislatures, Initiative and Referendum States (accessed January 11, 2022) [https://perma.cc/P7RT-B6SX]. Although not at issue in this appeal, our Constitution also recognizes a constitutional referendum, see Const 1963, art 12, § 1, as well the people’s power to recall elected officials, see Const 1963, art 2, § 8. As used in this opinion, the term “referendum” will only be used in its legislative context. 8 for referendum of the total vote cast for all candidates for governor at the last preceding general election at which a governor was elected shall be required.