(1) This act shall be known and may be cited as “the charter township act”.

    (2) A township, having a population of 2,000 or more inhabitants according to the most recent regular or special federal or state census of the inhabitants of the township may incorporate as a charter township. The charter township shall be a municipal corporation, to be known and designated as the charter township of ............................, and shall be subject to this act, which is the charter of the charter township. The charter township, its inhabitants, and its officers shall have, except as otherwise provided in this act, all the powers, privileges, immunities, and liabilities possessed by a township, its inhabitants, and its officers by law and under chapter 16 of the Revised Statutes of 1846, being sections 41.1a to 41.110c of the Michigan Compiled Laws.

    (3) A special census of the inhabitants of a township desiring to incorporate under this act shall be taken by the secretary of state upon receipt of a petition signed by not less than 100 registered electors of the township. Within 5 days after receipt of the petition, the secretary of state shall appoint an enumerator or enumerators. An enumerator shall qualify for the office of enumerator, enumerate the inhabitants of the township, and make a return in the manner provided in section 6 of Act No. 279 of the Public Acts of 1909, as amended, being section 117.6 of the Michigan Compiled Laws. The census, when accepted by the secretary of state, shall fix the population of any township so enumerated for the purposes of this act. All expenses incident to the census shall be paid for by the township.