Editing Michigan (section)

===State government===
{{Main|Government of Michigan}}

[[File:Michigan state capitol.jpg|thumb|The [[Michigan State Capitol]] in [[Lansing]] houses the [[Michigan Legislature|legislative branch]] of the government of the US state of Michigan.]]

Michigan is governed as a republic, with three [[separation of powers|branches of government]]: the [[executive branch]] consisting of the [[Governor of Michigan]] and the other independently elected constitutional officers; the [[legislative branch]] consisting of the [[Michigan State House of Representatives|House of Representatives]] and [[Michigan Senate|Senate]]; and the [[judicial branch]]. The [[Michigan Constitution]] allows for the direct participation of the electorate by statutory [[Popular initiative|initiative]] and [[referendum]], [[recall election|recall]], and constitutional initiative and [[ratification|referral]] (Article II, § 9,<ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.legislature.mi.gov/printDocument.aspx?objstate=mcl-article-ii-9&version=txt |title = Article II, § 9 of State Constitution |publisher = Michigan Legislature |access-date = June 27, 2012 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130117041635/http://www.legislature.mi.gov/(S(dmjr2jejmjc0at2whhlicz55))/printDocument.aspx?objstate=mcl-article-ii-9&version=txt |archive-date = January 17, 2013 |url-status = live}}</ref> defined as "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"). [[Lansing, Michigan|Lansing]] is the [[list of capitals in the United States|state capital]] and is home to all three branches of state government.

[[File:Michigan House of Representatives.jpg|thumb|The floor of the [[Michigan House of Representatives]]]]

The governor and the other state constitutional officers serve four-year terms and may be re-elected only once. The current governor is [[Gretchen Whitmer]]. Michigan has two official [[Michigan Governor's Residence|Governor's Residences]]; one is in Lansing, and the other is on [[Mackinac Island]]. The other constitutionally elected executive officers are the [[Lieutenant Governor of Michigan|lieutenant governor]], who is elected on a joint ticket with the governor; the [[Secretary of State of Michigan|secretary of state]]; and the [[Attorney General of Michigan|attorney general]]. The lieutenant governor presides over the Senate (voting only in case of a tie) and is also a member of the cabinet. The secretary of state is the chief elections officer and is charged with running many licensure programs including motor vehicles, all of which are done through the branch offices of the secretary of state.

The [[Michigan Legislature]] consists of a 38-member Senate and 110-member House of Representatives. Members of both houses of the legislature are elected through [[first past the post]] elections by single-member electoral districts of near-equal population that often have boundaries which coincide with county and municipal lines. Senators serve four-year terms concurrent to those of the governor, while representatives serve two-year terms. The [[Michigan State Capitol]] was dedicated in 1879 and has hosted the executive and legislative branches of the state ever since.

[[File:Michigan National Guard members participate in inauguration, Adjutant General swearing-in 190101-F-VX133-049.jpg|thumb|left|Governor Gretchen Whitmer speaking at a National Guard ceremony in 2019]]

The Michigan judiciary consists of two courts with primary jurisdiction (the Circuit Courts and the District Courts), one intermediate level appellate court (the [[Michigan Court of Appeals]]), and the [[Michigan Supreme Court]]. There are several administrative courts and specialized courts. District courts are trial courts of [[limited jurisdiction]], handling most traffic violations, small claims, [[misdemeanor]]s, and civil suits where the amount contended is below $25,000. District courts are often responsible for handling the preliminary examination and for setting bail in felony cases. District court judges are elected to terms of six years. In a few locations, municipal courts have been retained to the exclusion of the establishment of district courts. There are 57 circuit courts in the State of Michigan, which have [[original jurisdiction]] over all civil suits where the amount contended in the case exceeds $25,000 and all criminal cases involving [[felony|felonies]]. Circuit courts are also the only trial courts in the State of Michigan which possess the power to issue [[equitable remedies]]. Circuit courts have [[appellate jurisdiction]] from district and municipal courts, as well as from decisions and decrees of state agencies. Most counties have their own circuit court, but sparsely populated counties often share them. Circuit court judges are elected to terms of six years. State appellate court judges are elected to terms of six years, but vacancies are filled by an appointment by the governor. There are four divisions of the Court of Appeals in Detroit, Grand Rapids, Lansing, and Marquette. Cases are heard by the Court of Appeals by panels of three judges, who examine the application of the law and not the facts of the case unless there has been grievous error pertaining to questions of fact. The Michigan Supreme Court consists of seven members who are elected on non-partisan ballots for staggered eight-year terms. The Supreme Court has original jurisdiction only in narrow circumstances but holds appellate jurisdiction over the entire state judicial system.