As one of the three coequal branches of state government, the legislative branch has the power to pass laws, control taxing and spending authority, and exercise oversight of the executive branch.

A constitutional convention might spend time considering institutional issues, such as the size and structure of each chamber, term limits, conflict of interest and financial disclosure requirements, and redistricting.

Over time, several proposed amendments to Article IV have failed either at the ballot box or during the proposal process. Twenty-seven proposals dealing with Article IV have made it to the statewide ballot since 1964, the most proposals of any article. But only nine of the proposed amendments gained voter approval and became part of the 1963 Constitution, a success rate of just 33 percent. This is the lowest passage rate across all articles that have been proposed for amendment.

Failed Article IV amendments reflect persistent tensions between legislative expertise, accountability, transparency, and institutional power in Michigan governance.

An issue now before the U.S. Supreme Court concerns Michigan’s tax foreclosure system and how homeowners are compensated when a property is taken and sold to satisfy delinquent property taxes.

The Court is expected to issue a decision this summer in Pung v. Isabella County, a case that asks what just compensation is owed under the U.S. Constitution in this setting.

In a Nutshell:

-- A decision from the U. S. Supreme Court on what is just compensation when a foreclosed property is sold by a county to recover to delinquent property taxes, interest, and fees is expected in Pung v. Isabella County this summer.

-- The central question is whether the calculation of just compensation under the Fifth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution should be based on a tax auction sale price, or the fair market value of the foreclosed property.

-- Changes to Michigan’s tax foreclosure process should be made to address the issues raised by Pung v. Isabella County: expand homeowner education, ease the claims process for surplus proceeds, improve the transparency and competitiveness of tax auctions, and review the impact on property owners and local governments of the existing interest rate and penalty structure for delinquent taxes.

Guy Gordon, Eric Lupher and Research Council Detroit Bureau Director Doug Ortiz, who recently published a paper examining Detroit’s declining homicide rates, discuss Detroit's homicide rate and explore the context behind the decline, its social determinants, and what it means for the city’s future.

Understanding the context and the underlying factors driving these numbers is crucial. As Detroit continues to face challenges related to poverty and inequality, ongoing efforts will be necessary to ensure that this progress translates into lasting safety and a better quality of life for all residents.

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