Lying in the sixth Federal Circuit, Michigan is located in the Great Lakes Region/Midwestern portion of the United States. Its capital city is Lansing and the largest city is Detroit, often referred to as The Motor City. It is the only state which consists of two peninsulas in the US, the lower and upper peninsulas (referred to as the U.P). The state has the largest freshwater coastline of any political subdivision worldwide, as it is surrounded by four of the five great lakes, and Lake Saint Clair. The state has nearly 65,000 inland lakes & ponds, making it one of the most popular states for boating and water-recreation.

Today, the state of Michigan is driven by a diverse economic-base. It is known as the automotive center of the US. It is also a popular tourist destination, with a major portion of the state’s economy being driven by tourism-dollars. The economy is also driven by trade, imports and exports, high-technological advances, manufacturing, and services. Agriculture, including apple orchards, are also a major driver in the state’s economy.

Michigan allows direct participation of the electorate by initiative, referendum, recall, and ratification.  The government has three branches: the executive branch, led by the governor, the legislative branch with a bicameral house and a judicial branch with a court of justice.

The Michigan legislature is one of ten full-time legislative bodies in the nation.  It is divided into the upper and lower houses, and the role of the legislature is defined by Article IV of the state’s constitution, and legislative acts are published in the Acts of the Legislature and codified in the Michigan Compiled Laws.

The executive branch of Michigan consists of four elected officers: the governor, the lieutenant governor, the secretary of state and the Attorney General.  The Governor and the Lieutenant Governor are elected on the same ticket. The Attorney General is the state’s chief law enforcement officer and the Secretary of State and its department handles automobile-related licensing, elections and record holding.  Term limits of two terms per elected official were put in place in 1993.

The Michigan Judicial branch is headed up by the Michigan Supreme Court, which administers the other courts in the system: the Michigan Court of appeals, circuit courts and district courts and other administrative and specialized courts.   

The Michigan Supreme Court has elected members who are elected on non-partisan ballots for eight-year terms.  Appellate court, circuit court and district court judges are also elected, for terms to six years.  Any vacancies to the bench are filled by the Governor.

Michigan is home to the University of Michigan and Michigan State University, which are major in-state rivals. Additionally, Michigan is home to several law schools, including: Detroit College of Law at Michigan State University (East Lansing, MI), Thomas M. Cooley Law School (Lansing, MI), University of Michigan Law School (Ann Arbor, MI), University of Detroit Mercy School of Law (Detroit, MI) and Wayne State University Law School (Detroit, MI).

The National Law Review covers various cases, new legislation, and important stories which occur in the state of Michigan. Immigration cases, tax legislation, litigation at the state and federal level, news from the automotive industry, and general agency-related news, are among the stories covered on the site. Visitors can read about the latest news and updates in employment law, and the state’s economy on the National Law Review.