Michigan Secretary of State

Department of State
Department overview
Formed October 6, 1835 (1835-10-06)
Type State department
Jurisdiction State of Michigan
Headquarters Lansing, Michigan
Department executive
Key document
Website www.michigan.gov/sos

The Michigan Department of State is administered by the Secretary of State, who is elected on a partisan ballot for a term of four years in gubernatorial elections.

The Secretary of State is the third-ranking official in the State of Michigan.[1] As the name implies, the officeholder was originally responsible for much of state government, but now the duties are similar to those of the other 46 secretaries of states across the United States. In the event that the Governor and Lieutenant Governor are both absent from the state, or the offices are concurrently vacant for some other reason, the secretary of state serves as acting governor.

In Michigan, the Secretary of State is not only responsible for elections, but also oversees vehicle registration and the licensing of automobile drivers, similar to a motor vehicles regulator in other states. The officeholder also oversees and regulates notaries public and is the keeper of the Great Seal of Michigan.[2][3]

Under state law, the Secretary of State must have at least one office in each of Michigan's 83 counties.[4]

The current Secretary of State is Ruth Johnson.

Department organization

Secretary of State office, Pittsfield Township

Customer Services Administration

The Customer Services Administration (CSA) is divided into the Bureau of Branch Office Services, the Driver and Vehicle Records Division, the Office of Customer Services, the Department of State Information Center, the Program Procedures Section, and the Program Support Section. The Bureau of Branch Office Services operates a network of branch offices providing driver’s licensing, vehicle titling and registration, and voter registration services to the citizens of Michigan. The Driver and Vehicle Records Division manages driver and vehicle records maintenance activities. The Office of Customer Services oversees the Renewal-By-Mail and Internet Renewal, as well as the Uniform Commercial Code. The office serves International Registration Plan vehicle owners and Michigan residents who are out of state. The Department of State Information Center is the point of contact for many citizens seeking information about Secretary of State programs and services. The center also oversees driver and vehicle record sales and the distribution of the annual jury listing to Michigan counties.[2]

Department Services Administration

The Department Services Administration (DSA) provides coordination and support to the agency in the areas of administration, finance, technology, project management, human resources, employee development, and occupancy management. It facilitates the strategic vision, direction, and support for the Secretary of State’s high-priority programs to ensure continued innovation, modernization, and effective use of resources. The DSA includes the Office of Technology and Project Services, the Office of Human Resources, the Office of Occupancy Services, the Accounting Services Division, the Budget Services Division, and the department’s Business Application Modernization initiative.[2]

The Legal and Regulatory Services Administration (LRSA) is divided into the Bureau of Information Security, the Bureau of Regulatory Services, and the Legal Policy and Procedures Section. The LRSA provides research and counsel to the Secretary of State on statutes and rules administered.[2]

Election and Officeholders

Secretary of State of Michigan
Incumbent
Ruth Johnson
since January 1, 2011
Michigan Department of State
Appointer Popular election
Term length 4 Years, Renewable Once
Inaugural holder Kintzing Pritchette
Formation 1837
Website www.michigan.gov/sos/

The Secretary of State is elected for a four-year term, concurrent with that of the governor. Candidates are nominated at partisan conventions.[5] Under the state Constitution, the Secretary of State is restricted to two four-year terms in that office.

The Secretary of State receives the courtesy title of The Honorable (abbreviated to Hon. or Hon'ble) for life.

Michigan Secretaries of State
# Officeholder[6] Term of Service Political Party
1 Kintzing Pritchette 1835–1838
2 Randolph Manning 1838–1840 Democratic
3 Thomas Rowland 1840–1842
4 Robert P. Eldredge 1842–1846
5 Gideon O. Whittemore 1846–1848
6 George W. Peck 1848–1850 Democratic
7 George R. Redfield 1850
8 Charles H. Taylor 1850–1852
9 William Graves 1853–1855
10 John McKinney 1855–1859
11 Nelson G. Isbell 1859–1861
12 James B. Porter 1861–1867
13 Oliver L. Spaulding 1867–1871 Republican
14 Daniel Striker 1871–1875
15 Ebenezer G. D. Holden 1875–1879
16 William Jenney 1879–1883
17 Harry A. Conant 1883–1887
18 Gilbert R. Osmun 1887–1891
19 Daniel E. Soper 1891
20 Robert R. Blacker 1891–1893
21 John W. Jochim 1893–1894
22 Washington Gardner 1894–1899 Republican
23 Justus S. Stearns 1899–1901 Republican
24 Fred M. Warner 1901–1905 Republican
25 George A. Prescott 1905–1909
26 Frederick C. Martindale 1909–1915
27 Coleman C. Vaughan 1915–1921
28 Charles J. DeLand 1921–1927
29 John S. Haggerty 1927–1931
30 Frank D. Fitzgerald 1931–1934 Republican
31 Clarke W. Brown 1934-1935
32 Orville E. Atwood 1935–1937
33 Leon D. Case 1937-1939 Democratic
34 Harry F. Kelly 1939–1943 Republican
35 Herman H. Dignan 1943–1946
36 Fred M. Alger, Jr. 1947–1953 Republican
37 Owen J. Cleary 1953–1955 Republican
38 James M. Hare 1955–1971 Democratic
39 Richard H. Austin 1971-1995 Democratic
40 Candice S. Miller 1995-2003 Republican
41 Terri Lynn Land 2003-2011 Republican
42 Ruth Johnson 2011–present Republican

Source: Michigan Manual 2003-2004, Chapter IV, Former Officials of Michigan

References

  1. ↑ About the Michigan Department of State (Michigan.gov)
  2. 1 2 3 4 2011-2012 Michigan Manual: Chapter IV—The Executive Branch: Department of State
  3. ↑ MCL 11.4 Secretary of state; duties.
  4. ↑ MCL 257.205 Secretary of state; office and branch offices; establishment; employees; bond; liability for loss of money; person appointed to conduct branch office; compensation and expenses.
  5. ↑ MCL 168.72 Candidates for lieutenant governor, secretary of state, attorney general; nomination at fall state convention.
  6. ↑ Michigan.gov, Michigan Secretaries of State
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