Michigan Compiled Laws

Mich. Comp. Laws § 8.3 (2026)

General rules of construction.

✓ current as of July 2026
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Revised Statutes of 1846


R.S. of 1846


8.3 General rules of construction.

Sec. 3.

    In the construction of the statutes of this state, the rules stated in sections 3a to 3w shall be observed, unless such construction would be inconsistent with the manifest intent of the legislature.

History: R.S. 1846, Ch. 1 ;-- CL 1857, 2 ;-- CL 1871, 2 ;-- How. 2 ;-- CL 1897, 50 ;-- CL 1915, 64 ;-- CL 1929, 76 ;-- Am. 1939, Act 60, Imd. Eff. Sept. 29, 1939 ;-- CL 1948, 8.3 ;-- Am. 1952, Act 100, Eff. Sept. 18, 1952 ;-- Am. 1956, Act 76, Eff. Aug. 11, 1956 ;-- Am. 1959, Act 189, Imd. Eff. July 22, 1959

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 88 cases (13 in the last 5 years), 1946–2026 · leading case: In Re Dow Corning Corp., 255 B.R. 445 (E.D. Mich. 2000).
In Re Dow Corning Corp., 255 B.R. 445 (E.D. Mich. 2000). · cites it 46× “” Joint Plan, § 8.3. The released parties include the “Shareholders” and the “Proponents”.”
In Re Dow Corning Corp., 244 B.R. 721 (Bankr. E.D. Mich. 1999). · cites it 33× “Pursuant to § 8.3, personal-injury claims against various parties “are deemed .”
Donkers v. Kovach, 745 N.W.2d 154 (Mich. Ct. App. 2008). · cites it 5× “3k may be ignored on the basis of the majority's determination of the "manifest intent of the legislature," MCL 8.3, which the majority in turn bases on the lack of text in MCL 600.”
People v. Costner, 870 N.W.2d 582 (Mich. Ct. App. 2015). · cites it 6× “” MCL 8.3. Here, with the definition referencing a “calendar year” and “year of our Lord,” it is clear that these definitions are only appropriate when referencing a particular date/year, not a unit or measure of time.”
Empire Iron Mining P'ship v. Orhanen, 565 N.W.2d 844 (Mich. 1997). · cites it 5× “§ 8.3 et seq.; M.S.A. § 2.212 et seq. They specify that every word indicating the singular may extend to the plural, and every word indicating the plural may be applied to the singular.”
Advisory Opinion Re Constitutionality of 1972 PA 294, 1972 PA 294 (Mich. 1973). · cites it 5× “[8] MCLA 8.3; MSA 2.212, reads: "In the construction of the statutes of this state the rules stated in sections 3a to 3w shall be observed, unless such construction would be inconsistent with the manifest intent of the legislature.”
In Re Request for Advisory Opinion Regarding Constitutionality of 2005 Pa 71, 740 N.W.2d 444 (Mich. 2007). · cites it 2× “[22] Moreover, MCL 8.3 indicates that MCL 8.3u is to be observed "unless such construction would be inconsistent with the manifest intent of the legislature.”
Twp. of Casco v. Sec'y of State, 701 N.W.2d 102 (Mich. 2005). · cites it 2× “" [58] We went on to hold that MCL 8.3 "provides that the rule stated in § 3b shall be observed `unless such construction would be inconsistent with the manifest intent of the Legislature.”
Great Lakes Soc'y v. Georgetown Charter Twp., 761 N.W.2d 371 (Mich. Ct. App. 2008). · cites it 2× “Section 8.3(A) of the Georgetown Charter Township zoning ordinances permits construction of “churches” in a residential district with a special use permit (SUP).”
Robinson v. City of Detroit, 613 N.W.2d 307 (Mich. 2000). “Moreover, MCL 8.3; MSA 2.212 provides that the rule stated in § 3b shall be observed “unless such construction would be inconsistent with the manifest intent of the Legislature.”
G C Timmis & Co. v. Guardian Alarm Co., 662 N.W.2d 710 (Mich. 2003). “Indeed, the statutory construction rules, MCL 8.3 et seq., provide a compelling justification, if any were needed, for hewing closely to the common meaning of the words employed in a statute: The Legislature is drafting its statutes in reliance that courts will follow the…”
Elias Bros. Restaurants, Inc. v. Treasury Dep't, 549 N.W.2d 837 (Mich. 1996). · cites it 2× “The question before this Court is whether Elias Brothers is an industrial processor engaged in industrial processing, or is a mere retailer, when its Commissary processes goods for company-owned stores.”
— Mich. Comp. Laws § 8.3(1) — 1 case
Krum v. Sheppard, 255 F. Supp. 994 (W.D. Mich. 1966).
— Mich. Comp. Laws § 8.3(12) — 1 case
Krum v. Sheppard, 255 F. Supp. 994 (W.D. Mich. 1966).
— Mich. Comp. Laws § 8.3(A) — 1 case
Great Lakes Soc'y v. Georgetown Charter Twp., 761 N.W.2d 371 (Mich. Ct. App. 2008). “Section 8.3(A) of the Georgetown Charter Township zoning ordinances permits construction of “churches” in a residential district with a special use permit (SUP).”
— Mich. Comp. Laws § 8.3(a) — 4 cases
Weidman v. Brandon Sch. Dist. Bd. of Educ., 371 N.W.2d 910 (Mich. Ct. App. 1985).
Tanisha Smith v. Lulu Lemon LLC (Mich. Ct. App. 2020).
— Mich. Comp. Laws § 8.3(b) — 1 case
Empire Iron Mining P'ship v. Orhanen, 565 N.W.2d 844 (Mich. 1997). “§ 8.3 et seq.; M.S.A. § 2.212 et seq. They specify that every word indicating the singular may extend to the plural, and every word indicating the plural may be applied to the singular.”
— Mich. Comp. Laws § 8.3(d) — 1 case
In Re Dow Corning Corp., 255 B.R. 445 (E.D. Mich. 2000). “” Joint Plan, § 8.3. The released parties include the “Shareholders” and the “Proponents”.”
— Mich. Comp. Laws § 8.3(e) — 1 case
— Mich. Comp. Laws § 8.3(u) — 1 case
Annotations are extracted automatically from the opinions in the Syfert caselaw corpus and ranked by authority, recency, and treatment. Dots show Syfertize treatment of the citing case itself.