Michigan is a Republican state with three distinct branches that are as
follows: the Executive branch (Governor of Michigan and state agencies),
the Legislative branch (the House of Representatives and the Senate) and
the Judicial branch (Supreme Court and lower courts). The state's chief
executive is a governor who holds a term of four years after winning
election.
Michigan Executive Branch
The Executive Branch consists of Attorney General of Michigan, Governor of Michigan, Lieutenant Governor of Michigan, Michigan Director of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs, Michigan Commissioner of Insurance, Michigan Treasurer, Michigan Superintendent of Public Instruction, Michigan Secretary of State, Michigan Director of Agriculture and Rural Development, Michigan Auditor General, Michigan Director of Natural Resources, Michigan Public Service Commission.
Governor of Michigan
The Governor of the State of Michigan is the head of the executive branch
of Michigan Government. The governor is elected every four years by a
plurality. There is no limit to the number of terms that can be served.
Contact Details
Northern Michigan Office
234 West Baraga Avenue
Marquette, MI 49855
(906) 228-2850
Visit the website of Governor
Lieutenant Governor of Michigan
Lieutenant Governor acts as Governor when the Governor is out of the state. In addition, the Lieutenant performs duties, which the governor may consider necessary for the well being of the state, which includes serving as the Governor's chief appointment officer and commissions and councils. For Michigan, there is no limit to the number of terms a Lieutenant Governor may serve.
Contact Details
Northern Michigan Office
234 West Baraga Avenue
Marquette, MI 49855
(906) 228-2850
Visit the website of Lieutenant Governor
Attorney General
Attorney General of Michigan serves as the attorney and legal advisor for authorities, the Governor, all state agencies and departments. It can initiate civil or criminal actions on behalf of the State of Michigan when requested to do so by the Governor. By law the Attorney General does not provide legal advice to private citizens.
Contact Details
G. Mennen Williams Building, 7th Floor
525 W. Ottawa St.
P.O. Box 30212
Lansing, MI 48909
Main Number (517) 373-1110
Facsimile (517) 373-3042
Visit the website of Attorney General
Secretary of State
The Secretary of State of the U.S. state of Michigan is an elected official with many responsibilities, including supervising elections and maintaining public records and people. They also investigate election fraud and enforcing state election laws.
Contact Details
Michigan Department of State
Lansing, MI 48918
Visit the website of Secretary of State
Michigan Legislative Branch
The Legislature of Michigan first took place in 1847 in the state's capital Detroit which had 50 Representatives and 16 Senators. Present Legislature has 38 Senators and 148 State Representatives[1].
Michigan Senate
The legislative power of the State of Michigan is made up of a Senate and a House of Representatives. The Senate is the upper house of the Legislature. The Senates are nominated by the electors of districts and presently has 38 members.
Find your Senators here
Contact Details
Michigan State Senate
PO Box 30036
Lansing, MI 48909-7536
Visit the website of Michigan Senate
Michigan House of Representatives
The House of Representatives is the lower house of the Legislature. It consists of 110 members who serves two-year terms. Each Representative is limited to serving 3 terms. The speaker is selected by the House of Representatives itself and has its own rules and procedures from the beginning of the Legislative session.
Find your Representatives here
Contact Details
Anderson House Office Building
124 North Capitol Avenue
P.O. Box 30014
Lansing, MI 48909-7514
Visit the website of House of Representatives.
Michigan Judicial Branch
The Judicial Branch of Michigan consists of Appellate Court and Trial Court. The Appellate Court comprises of Supreme Court and Court of Appeal. The Trial Court comprises of Circuit Court, District Court, Municipal Court and Probate Court.
Supreme Court of Michigan
The Supreme Court is the highest court in the Michigan and hears all cases of Court of Appeals. The court is responsible to make effective rules and policies for the appropriate working of the entire court system. The Supreme Court comprises of seven justices: the chief justice and six associate justices. The justices are elected to serve eight-year terms.
View the list of Justices here.
Contact Details
Michigan Hall of Justice
925 W. Ottawa Street
Lansing, MI 48915
Visit the website of Supreme Court
Michigan Court of Appeals
The Michigan Court of Appeals is divided into four districts with 28 judges. Hearing of cases take place by panels of 3 judges. The judges of the Court of Appeals are selected from one of four district. Two of the three judges on a panel must agree on the ruling in a case for the verdict.
The Court of Appeals is divided into four districts with the following offices:
- Michigan First District Court of Appeals - Detroit
- Michigan Second District Court of Appeals - Troy
- Michigan Third District Court of Appeals - Grand Rapids
- Michigan Fourth District Court of Appeals - Lansing
Visit the website
Trial Courts
The Michigan Trial Court comprises of the following.
Circuit Courts
Circuit court judges are elected for six-year terms. There are 57 circuit courts in Michigan. The circuit court hears all felony criminal cases and all civil cases with claims of more than $25,000. The main circuit court hears all cases of personal protection actions, juvenile guardianship, delinquency, juvenile offenses, treatment, adoptions, paternity, divorce, safe delivery of newborns and child abuse and neglect.
District courts
District court judges are elected for six-year terms. There are hundred district courts in Michigan. More people contact directly to District court. The district court is also known as the people's court. The district court hears most landlord-tenant matters, all civil cases with claims up to $25,000, traffic violations and all felony cases. Also hearing of small claims are heard by a division of the district court.
Probate Court
Probate court judges are elected for six-year terms. There are seventy eight probate courts in Michigan. The probate court orders treatment for mentally ill, appoints guardians and conservators, administers estates and trusts and wills.
Michigan State Agencies
Michigan Department of Civil Rights
The mission of the Department of Civil Rights is to give full rights to people given to them by constitution. They take complain against discrimination, create awareness among people to promote civil rights, implement many anti-hate programs and by educating people about the fundamental rights and duties.
Contact Details
Lansing Executive Office
Capitol Tower Building
110 W. Michigan Ave., Suite 800
Lansing, MI 48933
Phone: 517-335-3165
Fax: 517-241-0546
TTY: 517-241-1965
Email: MDCR-INFO@michigan.gov
Visit the website
Michigan Department of Community Health
Michigan Department of Community Health is responsible for defending the public health and security of the residents and countless visitors. The functions of MDCH include development of state health policy and management of the state's publicly funded health service systems.
Contact Details
Capitol View Building
201 Townsend Street
Lansing, Michigan 48913
Visit the website
Michigan Department of Education
It consists of the Michigan State Board of Education, a policy-making body, which makes and implements all policies for all public education in Michigan. The Department implements federal and state legislative mandates in education.
Contact Details
Michigan Department of Education
608 W. Allegan Street
P.O. Box 30008
Lansing, MI 48909
517-373-3324
Visit the website
Michigan Department of Transportation
Michigan Department of Transportation works toward the transportation system of Michigan. The department manages the safety of bridges, roads, airports, railways and seaports. Michigan transportation system includes roadway, airways, railways, sea, bus transit, spaceports, and bicycle and pedestrian facilities.
Contact Details
Michigan Department of Transportation
State Transportation Building
425 W. Ottawa St.
P.O. Box 30050
Lansing, MI 48909
Visit the website
Michigan State Police
The Michigan State Police works significantly to promote safety of public and enhances the quality of life by creating a sense of security. It has four departments which comprises of Administration, Forensic Services, Internal Investigation and Operations
Contact Details
Michigan State Police Headquarters
333 S. Grand Ave.
P.O. Box 30634
Lansing, MI 48909-0634
Information:(517) 332-2521
Visit the website
References:
Michigan Legislature
