In response, affirmative-action opponents developed an initiative to amend the Michigan Constitution to prohibit race- and sex-based discrimination or preferences in public education, employment and contracting.
But opponents had already been at work on Proposition 8, seeking to enshrine the marriage definition in the constitution, and the initiative was approved for the November 4 vote.
The "fat cat initiative", as it has been called, will be written into the Swiss constitution and apply to all Swiss companies listed on Switzerland's stock exchange.