CRC Introduces Series of Papers on Con-Con Question
This week marks the beginning of the constitutionally prescribed budget process in Michigan that is initiated with the Governor's introduction of a balanced budget and the legislature's enactment of spending authorizations. The development of the state's annual budget has been the focus of public policy debate over the last decade.
The Citizens Research Council of Michigan has released the first of a series of papers analyzing issues that voters may use to decide their vote on Proposal 1 on the November 2, 2010 ballot. Proposal 1 will ask Michigan voters whether a constitutional convention should be convened for the purpose of a general revision of the state Constitution.
"Among the many issues a constitutional convention may choose to address," said CRC President Jeffrey Guilfoyle, "Are the roles of the executive and legislative branches in the budget process, the balanced budget requirements, and the operations of state government when appropriations are not enacted before the beginning of each fiscal year."
The 1963 Michigan Constitution provides in Article XII, Section 3, that in 1978 and every 16 years thereafter the question of a general revision of the constitution shall be submitted to the electors of the state.
CRC plans to release analysis of the con-con question in a series of papers to be released on roughly a bi-weekly schedule at www.crcmich.org/elections. Sign up for CRC’s e-mail updates to have notice of their release delivered directly to your inbox or subscribe to the Elections page for RSS feeds.
The report, General Revision of the Michigan Constitution, can be read on the CRC website, www.crcmich.org.
The Citizens Research Council of Michigan is a private, nonprofit public affairs research organization, founded in 1916 to analyze issues pertaining to state and local government organization and finance in Michigan.
