Township Government
Township Government in Michigan
Michigan is one of 20 states that has some form of township government. While the growth of township government has made it more difficult to discern the differences between cities, townships and villages there are significant differences that are important to the people charged with administering township affairs and deciding township policies. Counties and townships are statutory units of government, having only those powers expressly provided or fairly implied by state law. Cities and most villages are vested with home rule powers, which means they can do almost anything not prohibited by law.
Michigan consist of two types of townships - general law and charter townships. If a Charter Township, status is a special township classification that was created by the Michigan Legislature in 1947 to provide additional powers and stream-lined administration for governing a growing community. The primary motivation for townships to adopt a charter form of governing is to provide greater protection against annexation by a city. There were 127 townships in Michigan that have opted to become charter townships as of April 2001.
Currently in Michigan there are 1,242 townships, which vary in geographical size and population. Township populations in Michigan can range from 10 to 95,648 people based on the 2000 U.S. Census Bureau information.
In Michigan a township board consist of either five or seven members--a clerk, supervisor, treasurer, and two or four trustees. The number of members is determined by the desires of the township residents, whether the township has a population of over 3,000 or 5,000 registered electors, and if the township has charter status. The township board also has the authority to hire a manager, assessor, police or fire chief, superintendent and other necessary personnel to operate the township efficiently.
Michigan is one of 20 states that has some form of township government. While the growth of township government has made it more difficult to discern the differences between cities, townships and villages there are significant differences that are important to the people charged with administering township affairs and deciding township policies. Counties and townships are statutory units of government, having only those powers expressly provided or fairly implied by state law. Cities and most villages are vested with home rule powers, which means they can do almost anything not prohibited by law.
Michigan consist of two types of townships - general law and charter townships. If a Charter Township, status is a special township classification that was created by the Michigan Legislature in 1947 to provide additional powers and stream-lined administration for governing a growing community. The primary motivation for townships to adopt a charter form of governing is to provide greater protection against annexation by a city. There were 127 townships in Michigan that have opted to become charter townships as of April 2001.
Currently in Michigan there are 1,242 townships, which vary in geographical size and population. Township populations in Michigan can range from 10 to 95,648 people based on the 2000 U.S. Census Bureau information.
In Michigan a township board consist of either five or seven members--a clerk, supervisor, treasurer, and two or four trustees. The number of members is determined by the desires of the township residents, whether the township has a population of over 3,000 or 5,000 registered electors, and if the township has charter status. The township board also has the authority to hire a manager, assessor, police or fire chief, superintendent and other necessary personnel to operate the township efficiently.
