Michigan Compiled Laws, Chapter 124. Municipalities § 124.653

(a) “Articles” means a metropolitan area council's articles of incorporation provided for in section 5.  2

(b) “Council area” means the combined territory of the cities, villages, and townships participating in a metropolitan area council.

(c) “Largest” means, if used in reference to a county, the county having the greatest population residing in participating cities, villages, and townships. “Largest”, if used in reference to a participating local governmental unit, means the participating local governmental unit having the greatest population.

(d) “Local governmental unit” means a county, township, city, or village.

(e) “Metropolitan area” means a metropolitan statistical area, as defined as of the effective date of this act, by the United States department of commerce or a successor agency, with a population of less than 1,500,000 people.

(f) “Participating”, if used in reference to a local governmental unit, means 1 of the following: