Article VII, Local Government

The sheriff, county clerk, county treasurer and register of deeds shall hold their principal offices at the county seat. History: Const. 1963, Art. VII, § 5, Eff. Jan. 1, 1964. Former Constitution: See Const. 1908, Art. VIII, § 4.

The sheriff may be required by law to renew his security periodically and in default of giving such security, his office shall be vacant. The county shall never be responsible for his acts, except that the board of supervisors may protect him against claims by prisoners for unint…

A board of supervisors shall be established in each organized county consisting of one member from each organized township and such representation from cities as provided by law. History: Const. 1963, Art. VII, § 7, Eff. Jan. 1, 1964. Constitutionality: Section held invalid under…

Boards of supervisors shall have legislative, administrative and such other powers and duties as provided by law. History: Const. 1963, Art. VII, § 8, Eff. Jan. 1, 1964. Former Constitution: See Const. 1908, Art. VIII, § 8.

Boards of supervisors shall have exclusive power to fix the compensation of county officers not otherwise provided by law. History: Const. 1963, Art. VII, § 9, Eff. Jan. 1, 1964. Former Constitution: See Const. 1908, Art. VIII, § 9.

A county seat once established shall not be removed until the place to which it is proposed to be moved shall be designated by two-thirds of the members of the board of supervisors and a majority of the electors voting thereon shall have approved the proposed location in the mann…

No county shall incur any indebtedness which shall increase its total debt beyond 10 percent of its assessed valuation. History: Const. 1963, Art. VII, § 11, Eff. Jan. 1, 1964. Former Constitution: See Const. 1908, Art. VIII, § 12.

A navigable stream shall not be bridged or dammed without permission granted by the board of supervisors of the county as provided by law, which permission shall be subject to such reasonable compensation and other conditions as may seem best suited to safeguard the rights and in…

Two or more contiguous counties may combine into a single county if approved in each affected county by a majority of the electors voting on the question. History: Const. 1963, Art. VII, § 13, Eff. Jan. 1, 1964.

The board of supervisors of each organized county may organize and consolidate townships under restrictions and limitations provided by law. History: Const. 1963, Art. VII, § 14, Eff. Jan. 1, 1964. Former Constitution: See Const. 1908, Art. VIII, § 15.

Any county, when authorized by its board of supervisors shall have the authority to enter or to intervene in any action or certificate proceeding involving the services, charges or rates of any privately owned public utility furnishing services or commodities to rate payers withi…

The legislature may provide for the laying out, construction, improvement and maintenance of highways, bridges, culverts and airports by the state and by the counties and townships thereof; and may authorize counties to take charge and control of any highway within their limits f…

Each organized township shall be a body corporate with powers and immunities provided by law. History: Const. 1963, Art. VII, § 17, Eff. Jan. 1, 1964. Former Constitution: See Const. 1908, Art. VIII, § 16.

In each organized township there shall be elected for terms of not less than two nor more than four years as prescribed by law a supervisor, a clerk, a treasurer, and not to exceed four trustees, whose legislative and administrative powers and duties shall be provided by law. His…

No organized township shall grant any public utility franchise which is not subject to revocation at the will of the township, unless the proposition shall first have been approved by a majority of the electors of such township voting thereon at a regular or special election. His…

The legislature shall provide by law for the dissolution of township government whenever all the territory of an organized township is included within the boundaries of a village or villages notwithstanding that a village may include territory within another organized township an…

The legislature shall provide by general laws for the incorporation of cities and villages. Such laws shall limit their rate of ad valorem property taxation for municipal purposes, and restrict the powers of cities and villages to borrow money and contract debts. Each city and vi…

Under general laws the electors of each city and village shall have the power and authority to frame, adopt and amend its charter, and to amend an existing charter of the city or village heretofore granted or enacted by the legislature for the government of the city or village. E…

Any city or village may acquire, own, establish and maintain, within or without its corporate limits, parks, boulevards, cemeteries, hospitals and all works which involve the public health or safety. History: Const. 1963, Art. VII, § 23, Eff. Jan. 1, 1964. Former Constitution: Se…

Subject to this constitution, any city or village may acquire, own or operate, within or without its corporate limits, public service facilities for supplying water, light, heat, power, sewage disposal and transportation to the municipality and the inhabitants thereof.

No city or village shall acquire any public utility furnishing light, heat or power, or grant any public utility franchise which is not subject to revocation at the will of the city or village, unless the proposition shall first have been approved by three-fifths of the electors …

Except as otherwise provided in this constitution, no city or village shall have the power to loan its credit for any private purpose or, except as provided by law, for any public purpose. History: Const. 1963, Art. VII, § 26, Eff. Jan. 1, 1964.

Notwithstanding any other provision of this constitution the legislature may establish in metropolitan areas additional forms of government or authorities with powers, duties and jurisdictions as the legislature shall provide. Wherever possible, such additional forms of governmen…

The legislature by general law shall authorize two or more counties, townships, cities, villages or districts, or any combination thereof among other things to: enter into contractual undertakings or agreements with one another or with the state or with any combination thereof fo…

No person, partnership, association or corporation, public or private, operating a public utility shall have the right to the use of the highways, streets, alleys or other public places of any county, township, city or village for wires, poles, pipes, tracks, conduits or other ut…

No franchise or license shall be granted by any township, city or village for a period longer than 30 years. History: Const. 1963, Art. VII, § 30, Eff. Jan. 1, 1964. Former Constitution: See Const. 1908, Art. VIII, § 29.

The legislature shall not vacate or alter any road, street, alley or public place under the jurisdiction of any county, township, city or village. History: Const. 1963, Art. VII, § 31, Eff. Jan. 1, 1964. Former Constitution: See Const. 1908, Art. VIII, § 27.

Any county, township, city, village, authority or school district empowered by the legislature or by this constitution to prepare budgets of estimated expenditures and revenues shall adopt such budgets only after a public hearing in a manner prescribed by law. History: Const. 196…

Any elected officer of a political subdivision may be removed from office in the manner and for the causes provided by law. History: Const. 1963, Art. VII, § 33, Eff. Jan. 1, 1964. Former Constitution: See Const. 1908, Art. IX, § 8.

The provisions of this constitution and law concerning counties, townships, cities and villages shall be liberally construed in their favor. Powers granted to counties and townships by this constitution and by law shall include those fairly implied and not prohibited by this cons…