Constitution of the State of Michigan of 1835

The Constitutional Convention of 1835 drafted Michigan's first constitution. The convention was held in Detroit (the capital of the territory) from May 11 to June 24, 1835. John Biddle, a delegate from Wayne County, served as president of the convention.

The 91 delegates to the convention represented the counties of Berrien, Branch, Calhoun, Cass, Chippewa, Hillsdale, Jackson, Kalamazoo, Lenawee, Mackinac, Macomb, Monroe, Oakland, St. Clair, St. Joseph, Washtenaw and Wayne.

On June 24 the delegates adopted the constitution for submission to a vote of the people. On October 5 and 6, 1835, the people of Michigan approved the constitution by a vote of 6,299 to 1,359. Michigan was admitted to the Union as a state on January 26, 1837.

(Michigan had five constitutional conventions after its first in 1835. The people of Michigan adopted the constitutions drafted in the conventions of 1850, 1907-1908 and 1961-62 (adopted April 1, 1963). The people rejected constitutions proposed by the conventions of 1867 and 1873.)

The Constitution of the State of Michigan of 1835 is housed at the Archives of Michigan. The fragile document is displayed for public viewing once a year for the "Statehood Day" celebration in January.

Read or download a transcription of the Constitution of the State of Michigan of 1835. [PDF, 22 pages]

-Mark Harvey, State Archivist
E-mail:harveym@michigan.gov

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Archives of Michigan
Michigan Library and Historical Center
702 W. Kalamazoo Street
Lansing, MI 48913
Phone: (517) 373-1408
E-mail: garrettr1@michigan.gov

Updated 05/18/2006.

Michigan Historical Center, Department of History, Arts and Libraries
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