Revised Statutes of 1846 (EXCERPT)
R.S. of 1846
Township Meetings.


41.8 Annual meeting of electors of township; time and place; conducting business at public meeting; public notice; majority vote; resolution or petition submitting question of reestablishment of annual meeting to electors; signatures; abolishment of annual meeting; township not required to hold annual meeting; exception; exercise of powers.

Sec. 8.

    (1) Except as otherwise provided in this section, an annual meeting of the electors of each township shall be held on the last Saturday in the last month of each fiscal year, at the time and place selected by the township board. However, the annual meeting may be held on an alternate date if the alternate date is approved by a majority of the township board and is in the last month of the township's fiscal year.
    (2) The business performed at a meeting of the electors of a township shall be conducted at a public meeting held in compliance with the open meetings act, 1976 PA 267, MCL 15.261 to 15.275. Public notice of the time, date, and place of the meeting shall be given by the township clerk in the manner required by the open meetings act, 1976 PA 267, MCL 15.261 to 15.275, and as provided by section 2 of 1963 (2nd Ex Sess) PA 43, MCL 141.412, except as provided in subsection (3).
    (3) In a township having less than 200 registered electors, the township board may provide that notice need not be given as provided in section 2 of 1963 (2nd Ex Sess) PA 43, MCL 141.412, but shall be posted in 3 of the most public places of the township.
    (4) The electors meeting at the place designated shall transact lawful business by majority vote.
    (5) In a township other than a charter township, the township board, by resolution, may, or on the filing of petitions signed by a number of registered electors of the township equal to not less than 5% of the electors who voted for township supervisor at the immediately preceding township supervisor election of the township, shall, submit the question of the reestablishment of the annual meeting of the electors to the electors of the township at the next regular primary election or general election. The resolution or petitions shall be filed with the township clerk not later than 4 p.m. on the twelfth Tuesday before the election at which the question is submitted. If a majority of the electors of the township voting on the question votes to reestablish the annual meeting of the electors, the annual meeting of the electors is reestablished for that township, and the electors at the annual meeting shall reassume powers conferred by statute. Once the annual meeting has been reestablished by a vote of the people, the annual meeting may only be abolished by a resolution of the township board submitting the question of the abolition of the annual meeting to the electors of the township at the next regular primary or general election.
    (6) Except as provided in subsection (5), a township is not required to hold an annual meeting of the electors of the township unless the township board, by resolution, elects to hold an annual meeting.
    (7) In a township that does not hold an annual meeting, powers that could have been exercised by the electors at an annual meeting may be exercised by the township board.


History: R.S. 1846, Ch. 16 ;-- CL 1857, 500 ;-- CL 1871, 643 ;-- Am. 1875, Act 42, Imd. Eff. Mar. 20, 1875 ;-- Am. 1881, Act 158, Eff. July 1, 1881 ;-- How. 677 ;-- CL 1897, 2275 ;-- Am. 1909, Act 66, Eff. Sept. 1, 1909 ;-- CL 1915, 2054 ;-- CL 1929, 963 ;-- Am. 1944, 1st Ex. Sess., Act 16, Imd. Eff. Feb. 19, 1944 ;-- CL 1948, 41.8 ;-- Am. 1956, Act 105, Eff. Aug. 11, 1956 ;-- Am. 1977, Act 159, Imd. Eff. Nov. 8, 1977 ;-- Am. 1978, Act 596, Imd. Eff. Jan. 4, 1979 ;-- Am. 1980, Act 378, Imd. Eff. Jan. 2, 1981 ;-- Am. 1982, Act 363, Eff. Mar. 30, 1983 ;-- Am. 1984, Act 106, Imd. Eff. May 24, 1984 ;-- Am. 1988, Act 187, Imd. Eff. June 27, 1988 ;-- Am. 1989, Act 77, Imd. Eff. June 20, 1989 ;-- Am. 1990, Act 101, Imd. Eff. June 14, 1990 ;-- Am. 2013, Act 254, Eff. Apr. 26, 2014





41.9 Violation of MCL 168.1 to 168.992 applicable to petitions; penalties.

Sec. 9.

     A petition under section 8 or 95, including the circulation and signing of the petition, is subject to section 488 of the Michigan election law, 1954 PA 116, MCL 168.488. A person who violates a provision of the Michigan election law, 1954 PA 116, MCL 168.1 to 168.992, applicable to a petition described in this section is subject to the penalties prescribed for that violation in the Michigan election law, 1954 PA 116, MCL 168.1 to 168.992.


History: Add. 1998, Act 143, Eff. Mar. 23, 1999





41.11 Repealed. 1954, Act 116, Eff. June 1, 1955.


Compiler's Notes: The repealed section provided for election and term of justices of peace.





41.13 Repealed. 1971, Act 43, Eff. Mar. 30, 1972.


Compiler's Notes: The repealed section pertained to terms of school inspectors.





41.15 Repealed. 1989, Act 77, Imd. Eff. June 20, 1989.


Compiler's Notes: The repealed section pertained to filling vacancy in office.





41.16 Township meetings; place.

Sec. 16.

     The annual and special township meetings of the electors shall be held at the place stated in the act or proceedings by which the township was organized or at another place designated by the township board.


History: R.S. 1846, Ch. 16 ;-- CL 1857, 508 ;-- CL 1871, 651 ;-- How. 687 ;-- CL 1897, 2286 ;-- CL 1915, 2065 ;-- CL 1929, 971 ;-- CL 1948, 41.16 ;-- Am. 1956, Act 105, Eff. Aug. 11, 1956 ;-- Am. 1989, Act 77, Imd. Eff. June 20, 1989





41.17, 41.18 Repealed. 1956, Act 105, Eff. Aug. 11, 1956.


Compiler's Notes: The repealed sections provided for adjournment of township meetings and notice of place for adjourned meeting.





41.19 Township meetings; adjournment.

Sec. 19.

     An annual or special meeting of the electors may, by a majority vote of the electors attending the meeting, be adjourned to another day, and from time to time, for the purpose of transacting any proper business of the township.


History: R.S. 1846, Ch. 16 ;-- CL 1857, 511 ;-- CL 1871, 654 ;-- How. 690 ;-- CL 1897, 2289 ;-- CL 1915, 2068 ;-- CL 1929, 974 ;-- CL 1948, 41.19 ;-- Am. 1956, Act 105, Eff. Aug. 11, 1956 ;-- Am. 1989, Act 77, Imd. Eff. June 20, 1989





41.20 First township meeting; date.

Sec. 20.

     The first township meeting of the electors after the organization of the township shall be held on the Saturday immediately preceding the first Monday in April following the organization.


History: R.S. 1846, Ch. 16 ;-- CL 1857, 512 ;-- CL 1871, 655 ;-- How. 691 ;-- CL 1897, 2290 ;-- CL 1915, 2069 ;-- CL 1929, 975 ;-- Am. 1944, 1st Ex. Sess., Act 16, Imd. Eff. Feb. 19, 1944 ;-- CL 1948, 41.20 ;-- Am. 1956, Act 105, Eff. Aug. 11, 1956 ;-- Am. 1989, Act 77, Imd. Eff. June 20, 1989
Former Law: See section 1 of Act 21 of 1839.





41.21 First township meeting; choosing moderator, clerk, and inspectors; oath; conduct of proceedings.

Sec. 21.

     At the first township meeting of the electors in any township, the registered electors present, between the hours of 9 and 10 a.m., shall choose 1 of their number as moderator, 1 of their number as clerk, and 2 others of their number as inspectors, who shall take the oath of office prescribed by section 1 of article XI of the state constitution of 1963, and shall conduct the proceedings of the meeting in all respects as other township meetings of the electors are required by law to be conducted.


History: R.S. 1846, Ch. 16 ;-- CL 1857, 513 ;-- CL 1871, 656 ;-- How. 692 ;-- CL 1897, 2291 ;-- CL 1915, 2070 ;-- CL 1929, 976 ;-- CL 1948, 41.21 ;-- Am. 1989, Act 77, Imd. Eff. June 20, 1989
Compiler's Notes: In this section, “the twelfth article of the constitution” refers to the Constitution of 1835. See now Const. 1963, Art. XI, § 1.
Former Law: See section 2 of Act 21 of 1839.





41.22 First township meeting; failure to hold; notice of subsequent meeting.

Sec. 22.

     If the electors of a newly organized township fail to hold their first township meeting on the day specified by section 20, any 3 electors of the township may call a meeting of the electors of the township, for a township election, at any time thereafter, by posting notices of the meeting in not less than 3 public places in the township, at least 10 days prior to the holding of the meeting.


History: R.S. 1846, Ch. 16 ;-- CL 1857, 514 ;-- CL 1871, 657 ;-- How. 693 ;-- CL 1897, 2292 ;-- CL 1915, 2071 ;-- CL 1929, 977 ;-- CL 1948, 41.22 ;-- Am. 1989, Act 77, Imd. Eff. June 20, 1989
Former Law: See section 3 of Act 21 of 1839.





41.23 First township meeting; oaths of office, administration.

Sec. 23.

     At such first township meeting, the moderator shall administer the oath of office to the other inspectors, and either of the other inspectors, after having been so qualified, may administer the like oath to the moderator.


History: R.S. 1846, Ch. 16 ;-- CL 1857, 515 ;-- CL 1871, 658 ;-- How. 694 ;-- CL 1897, 2293 ;-- CL 1915, 2072 ;-- CL 1929, 978 ;-- CL 1948, 41.23
Former Law: See section 4 of Act 21 of 1839.





41.24 Repealed. 1989, Act 77, Imd. Eff. June 20, 1989.


Compiler's Notes: The repealed section pertained to special township meetings to fill vacancies.





41.25 Special township meeting; purpose; order.

Sec. 25.

     A special township meeting of the electors shall also be held for the purpose of transacting any other lawful business, if ordered by the township board. The township board may order such a meeting on its own initiative and shall order a meeting if they receive a request in writing, signed by any 12 electors of the township or 1% of the registered electors in the township, whichever is greater, specifying the purposes for which the meeting is to be held. The manner of proceeding at a special meeting of the electors shall be the same as at the annual meeting of the electors.


History: R.S. 1846, Ch. 16 ;-- CL 1857, 517 ;-- CL 1871, 660 ;-- How. 696 ;-- CL 1897, 2295 ;-- CL 1915, 2074 ;-- CL 1929, 980 ;-- CL 1948, 41.25 ;-- Am. 1989, Act 77, Imd. Eff. June 20, 1989





41.26 Special township meeting; contents of order; order as part of minutes.

Sec. 26.

     An order for a special township meeting of the electors pursuant to section 25 shall specify the purpose for which it is to be held, and the time and the place where it shall be held. If any vacancies in office are to be filled at the special meeting, the order shall state in what offices vacancies exist, how they occurred, and who were the last incumbents. An order for a special township meeting of the electors shall be part of the minutes of the township board proceedings.


History: R.S. 1846, Ch. 16 ;-- CL 1857, 518 ;-- CL 1871, 661 ;-- How. 697 ;-- CL 1897, 2296 ;-- CL 1915, 2075 ;-- CL 1929, 981 ;-- CL 1948, 41.26 ;-- Am. 1983, Act 40, Imd. Eff. May 12, 1983 ;-- Am. 1989, Act 77, Imd. Eff. June 20, 1989





41.27 Special township meeting; time.

Sec. 27.

     The time appointed for holding a special township meeting of the electors shall be not more than 20 nor less than 15 days from the time the township board orders the holding of a special township meeting of the electors.


History: R.S. 1846, Ch. 16 ;-- CL 1857, 519 ;-- CL 1871, 662 ;-- How. 698 ;-- CL 1897, 2297 ;-- CL 1915, 2076 ;-- CL 1929, 982 ;-- CL 1948, 41.27 ;-- Am. 1989, Act 77, Imd. Eff. June 20, 1989





41.28 Special township meeting; posting and publishing copies of order.

Sec. 28.

     The township clerk, within 2 days after receiving an order for a special township meeting of the electors, shall cause copies post copies of the order in 3 of the most public places in the township, and if there is a newspaper printed in the township, he or she shall also publish a copy of the order in that newspaper, if practicable, at least 5 days before the day appointed for the special township meeting of the electors.


History: R.S. 1846, Ch. 16 ;-- CL 1857, 520 ;-- CL 1871, 663 ;-- How. 699 ;-- CL 1897, 2298 ;-- CL 1915, 2077 ;-- CL 1929, 983 ;-- CL 1948, 41.28 ;-- Am. 1989, Act 77, Imd. Eff. June 20, 1989
Compiler's Notes: In this section, the words “shall cause copies post copies” evidently should read “shall post copies.”





41.29 Repealed. 1956, Act 105, Eff. Aug. 11, 1956.


Compiler's Notes: The repealed section provided that no notice of annual township meetings shall be necessary.



Rendered 8/15/2025 9:05 AM
Michigan Compiled Laws Complete Through PA 5 of 2025
Courtesy of legislature.mi.gov