The Michigan Constitution Podcast

We will continue our discussion regarding Article 1, Section 6 in the Michigan Constitution. This provision of the MI Constitution reads as follows: “ Every person has a right to keep and bear arms for the defense of himself and the state “ This time, however, we will discuss the idea of being a Felony In Possession of a Firearm and whether that runs afoul of the the Michigan Constitut...

This time around we will discuss Article 1, Section 6 in the Michigan Constitution. That provision of the MI Constitution reads as follows: “ Every person has a right to keep and bear arms for the defense of himself and the state “ This provision, similar to the 2nd Amendment of the United States Constitution is going to allow for the defense of oneself, their property and the State of...

In our final review of Article 1, Section 5 we’re going to discuss defamation in regard to Freedom of the Press. This is traditionally a matter of a newspaper printing a story which the individual (who is the subject of the article) finds to be defamatory in nature. Remember: Defamation is a false comment which damages the reputation of the person against whom the false statement was directe...

We’re in the thick of what it means to enjoy a Freedom of Speech under the Michigan Constitution. In this third part of a four part series, we get into commercial and political speech. Business yard signs and political yard signs will be addressed. We also talk about pornography from an obscenity standpoint and why it’s so hard to craft legislation which constitutionally bans obscene b...

We continue the conversation about Michigan’s Constitution; Article 1, Section 5; and the Freedom of Speech. This time, we focus in on how the Michigan Constitution addresses topics like Fighting Words, Freedom of Expression, Freedom of the Press, Trials Closed to the Media, Prior Restraint and Freedom of Speech for State of Michigan Employees.

Although the United States Constitution wraps all our free speech rights into the First Amendment, our Michigan Constitution does not. It breaks it up between Article 1, Section 3 as well as Section 5. In this podcast, I start with a general review of Article 1, Section 5 and the free speech concept, generally. This is one what will likely be a four-part review of the Michigan’s freedom of s...

This time around, we do another one-off podcast to discuss the lawsuit the Michigan Legislature brought against the Michigan Governor (Gretchen Whitmer) as it relates to her issuance of Executive Order 2020-67 and Executive Order 2020-68. These EOs pertain to two Acts: the Emergency Powers of the Governor Act (EPGA) and the Emergency Management Act (EMA). This case was decided by a Michigan Court...

This time we take a break from the Michigan Constitution to address a legal case that’s making national news. In one corner, we have a barber who merely wants to operate his barbershop and cut hair. In the other corner, a Governor who says her Executive Orders are to be followed to the letter of the law. In between, we’ve got a ping-pong action between a local Circuit Court judge, the...

This topic, specifically Article 1, Section 4 is going to be broken up into 4 podcasts. There is a lot of information to share. This is Part 4 of 4.

This topic, specifically Article 1, Section 4 is going to be broken up into 4 podcasts. There is a lot of information to share. This is Part 3 of 4.

This topic, specifically Article 1, Section 4 is going to be broken up into 4 podcasts. There is a lot of information to share. This is Part 2 of 4.

This topic, specifically Article 1, Section 4 is going to be broken up into 4 podcasts. There is a lot of information to share. This is Part 1 of 4.

This time we discuss Article 1, Section 3 which discusses topics such as private versus public free speech, the right to assemble and the right to petition your government.

This week we will discuss Article 1, Section 2 and the equal protection rights afforded to citizens of and visitors to the State of Michigan

This time we discuss life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. We discuss the authority of democracy and when the Michigan Legislature can wield political power, delegate political power or must defer political power to the federal government.

This time around we review the Michigan Constitution and its authority against the backdrop of the United State Constitution. While the federal government grants rights to the states, the people of those individual states may choose to limit the state’s power even further.

The Michigan Constitution Podcast begins with a general introduction and a high-level history of the various constitutions of the State of Michigan.