ORGANIZATION OF LEGISLATURE

Act 67 of 1877

AN ACT relative to the organization of the meetings of the legislature.


History: 1877, Act 67, Eff. Aug. 21, 1877




The People of the State of Michigan enact:


4.41 Legislature, members elect; delivery of list by secretary of state, time; designation by districts.

Sec. 1.

     It shall be the duty of the secretary of state on or before the day prior to the first annual regular session of each legislature, to deliver to the secretary, or in case of his death or inability, then to the assistant secretary of the preceding senate, also to the clerk, or in case of his death or inability, then to the journal clerk of the next preceding house of representatives, a true and correct list of all the members elect of each house, as transmitted to him by the clerks of the several counties of the state, and in such list shall designate the senators and representatives by their respective districts.


History: 1877, Act 67, Eff. Aug. 21, 1877 ;-- How. 42 ;-- CL 1897, 4 ;-- CL 1915, 4 ;-- CL 1929, 5 ;-- CL 1948, 4.41 ;-- Am. 1953, Act 63, Eff. Oct. 2, 1953





4.42 Convening of legislature, time, organization, temporary rules.

Sec. 2.

     The members elect of the senate and house of representatives shall convene in their respective houses at the state capitol at Lansing, at 12 o'clock noon on the second Wednesday of January next succeeding their election, and proceed to the organization of their respective houses, in accordance with the provisions of this act, and under the rules of the preceding houses as temporary rules, and no other business shall be in order until they shall have completed such organization.


History: 1877, Act 67, Eff. Aug. 21, 1877 ;-- How. 43 ;-- CL 1897, 5 ;-- CL 1915, 5 ;-- CL 1929, 6 ;-- CL 1948, 4.42 ;-- Am. 1953, Act 63, Eff. Oct. 2, 1953 ;-- Am. 1955, Act 72, Eff. Oct. 14, 1955





4.43 Lieutenant governor's absence, secretary to preside; roll call.

Sec. 3.

     In case the lieutenant-governor is absent, or unable to perform the duties of his office, it shall be the duty of the secretary of the preceding senate, to call to order, and preside over the senate, until the lieutenant governor appears, or a president pro tempore is elected, and such secretary shall act as secretary of the senate until his successor is elected; and in calling the roll of the senate before the permanent organization thereof for any purpose whatever he shall call all the names appearing upon the list delivered to him by the secretary of state, as provided for in the preceding section, and he shall not call any other or different names.


History: 1877, Act 67, Eff. Aug. 21, 1877 ;-- How. 44 ;-- CL 1897, 6 ;-- CL 1915, 6 ;-- CL 1929, 7 ;-- CL 1948, 4.43





4.44 Clerk to preside pending election of speaker; roll call.

Sec. 4.

     It shall be the duty of the clerk of the next preceding house of representatives to call to order and preside over the house until a speaker, or speaker pro tempore, is elected, and he shall act as clerk of the house until his successor is elected; and in calling the roll of the house before the permanent organization thereof for any purpose whatever, he shall call all the names appearing upon the list delivered to him by the secretary of state, as provided in the first section of this act and he shall not call any other or different names.


History: 1877, Act 67, Eff. Aug. 21, 1877 ;-- How. 45 ;-- CL 1897, 7 ;-- CL 1915, 7 ;-- CL 1929, 8 ;-- CL 1948, 4.44





4.45 Secretary of senate, clerk of house; vacancies in office.

Sec. 5.

     In case of a vacancy in the office of the secretary of the senate, or clerk of the house, or of the absence or inability of either to perform the duties imposed by this act, such duties shall devolve upon the assistant secretary of the senate or journal clerk of the house of the next preceding senate or house of representatives. In case of a vacancy during the session of the legislature, such vacancy shall be filled by election of the body where such vacancy occurs. In case of a vacancy, during such time as the legislature is not in session, and before assuming the duties of secretary of the senate or clerk of the house, the assistant secretary or journal clerk, as the case may be, shall take and subscribe to the constitutional oath of office, and shall thereafter be vested with all the powers and duties as secretary of the senate or clerk of the house for the unexpired term, and shall be entitled to the compensation provided by law for said assistant secretary or journal clerk respectively.


History: 1877, Act 67, Eff. Aug. 21, 1877 ;-- How. 46 ;-- CL 1897, 8 ;-- CL 1915, 8 ;-- CL 1929, 9 ;-- Am. 1931, Act 116, Eff. Sept. 18, 1931 ;-- CL 1948, 4.45





4.46 Repealed. 2014, Act 397, Imd. Eff. Dec. 26, 2014.


Compiler's Notes: The repealed section pertained to officers authorized to administer oath of office.



Rendered 8/15/2025 5:30 PM
Michigan Compiled Laws Complete Through PA 5 of 2025
Courtesy of legislature.mi.gov