The 10 rules described in this report should help policymakers balance two vital interests: meeting the demands of mitigating a pandemic and protecting Michiganders’ constitutional rights. Some of the rules are rooted in long-established ideas that are fundamental to our democratic system of governance. Others are based on lessons learned from the state’s initial response to COVID-19. 

These rules will help create policies that are consistent, fair, temporary, transparent, easy to comprehend, and created through a deliberate process. Policies issued in this manner will lead to better compliance and be more effective in limiting the harms from a pandemic — the goal that all Michiganders share.