Michigan was settled in the early 1800s by Americans who valued their newly won freedoms and who recognized that strong local democracy is an important check and balance against over-reaching centralized government. Dover Township is one of 1,240 Michigan Townships, created as a general law township in 1879. As a statutory unit of government, Dover Township has those powers expressly provided or fairly implied by state law.

Supervisor Responsibilities: Moderates board and annual meetings; chief assessing office (if certified as an assessor); secretary to the board of review; Township's legal agent; develops township budget; appoints committee members when needed; may call special meetings; maintains supervisor's records.

Clerk Responsibilities: Maintains custody of all Township records; maintains general ledger; prepares warrants for township checks; records and maintains township meeting minutes; keeps the township book of oaths; responsible for special meeting notices; keeps voter registration records and conducts elections; keeps township ordinance books; prepares financial statements; delivers tax certificates to the supervisor and county clerk by September 30th; must post a surety bond.

Treasurer Responsibilities: Collects real and personal property taxes; keeps an account of township receipts (revenues) and expenditures; issues township checks; deposits township revenues in approved depositories; invests township funds in approved investment vehicles; collects delinquent personal property tax; responsible for jeopardy assessments in collecting property tax; collects mobile home specific tax; must post a surety bond.

Trustee Responsibilities: Township legislatures (required to vote on all issues); responsible for township's fiduciary health.