Michigan § 42.20 - Legislation to be ordinance or resolution; form, passage, amendment, recording, authentication, and compilation of ordinances.
Full text of Michigan Michigan Compiled Laws § 42.20 — Legislation to be ordinance or resolution; form, passage, amendment, recording, authentication, and compilation of ordinances., with citation guidance and answers to common questions.
§ 42.20. Legislation to be ordinance or resolution; form, passage, amendment, recording, authentication, and compilation of ordinances.
Legislation of a charter township shall be by ordinance or by resolution. A resolution shall be limited to matters required or permitted to be done by resolution by this act or by state or federal law and to matters pertaining to the internal affairs or concerns of the township government. Any other act of the township board, and any act imposing a sanction for the violation of the act, shall be by ordinance. “Resolution” means the official action of the township board in the form of a motion.
Each ordinance shall be identified by a number and a short title. Each proposed ordinance shall be introduced in written or printed form. The style of an ordinance shall be, “The charter township of .................... ordains:”. Except in the case of an ordinance that is declared to be an emergency ordinance, an ordinance shall not be finally passed by the township board at the same meeting at which it is introduced, or before it is published in the form in which it is introduced. An ordinance shall not be revised, altered, or amended by reference to its title only, but the section or sections of the ordinance revised, altered, or amended shall be re-enacted and published at length. When enacted, an ordinance shall be immediately recorded by the township clerk in a book to be called “The ordinance book”. The supervisor and township clerk shall authenticate the record by their official signatures on the record. The ordinances of each charter township shall be compiled and published in loose leaf or booklet form not less than once in every 10-year period.
Source: official Michigan text · Last verified 2026-08-27
Frequently Asked Questions About Michigan § 42.20
What does Michigan Compiled Laws § 42.20 cover?
Section 42.20 ("Legislation to be ordinance or resolution; form, passage, amendment, recording, authentication, and compilation of ordinances.") is part of the Michigan Compiled Laws, the codified statutory law of Michigan. It sets out the legal rule or procedure described in the text above. Statutes are amended regularly, so always verify against the official source.
How do I cite Michigan § 42.20?
A common citation format is "Michigan Compiled Laws § 42.20" (Michigan). Legal writing may require the code abbreviation, section number, and year or edition. Match the style required by your court, professor, or publisher.
Is this the official text of Michigan law?
No. This page is for research and education and may not include the most recent amendments. For official current law, check the Michigan official source linked on this page or consult a licensed Michigan attorney.
How does Michigan § 42.20 apply to my situation?
Statutes are interpreted in context, and application depends on your specific facts. Only a licensed attorney in Michigan can advise on how this section applies to you. Contact your state or local bar association for a referral.
Sources & Verification
Not legal advice. Verify against the official source and consult a licensed attorney in Michigan.