In episode 2 of the Research Council’s series of podcasts examining issues Michiganders might want to consider before casting their vote on a Con-Con in November.

Guy and Eric note that the past can be prologue, especially regarding the kind of issues voters faced in 1961 and issues facing Michigan today. For example, in 1961, voters sought to bolster Michigan’s equal protection and civil rights, leading to the strengthening of Michigan’s Declaration of Rights (Article I).

Many of today’s hot-button issues continue to revolve around Michigan’s equal protections, with today’s voters focusing less as it relates to race issues and more as it relates to gender, sexual identification, religious identification and LGBTQ rights. Many amendments to Michigan’s constitution have also dealt with the declaration of rights, as it relates to same sex marriage, affirmative action, stem cell research and abortion.

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