Indigenous Governance Database
Constitutions and Constitutions Excerpts
Yurok Tribe: Jurisdiction/Territory Excerpt
ARTICLE I - TERRITORY , JURISDICTION AND AUTHORITY SECTION 1 - Ancestral Lands The Ancestral Lands of the Yurok Tribe extend unbroken along the Pacific Ocean coast (including usual and customary offÂshore fishing areas) from Damnation Creek, its northern boundary, to the southern…
Tohono O'odham Nation: Jurisdiction/Territory Excerpt
ARTICLE I - JURISDICTION Section 1. The sovereign powers, authority and jurisdiction of the Tohono O'odham Nation and of its government shall extend to all lands within the boundaries of the Tohono O'odham Nation established by Executive Orders: December 12, 1882, modified June 17, 1909 (Gila…
Rosebud Sioux Tribe: Elections Excerpt
Article VI - Elections Section 1. Any enrolled member of the Rosebud Sioux Tribe, at least eighteen (18) years of age, who has resided for at least thirty (30) days immediately prior to the election day in the district in which he anticipates to vote, is qualified to vote. (Amendment XIV effective…
Rosebud Sioux Tribe: Legislative Functions Excerpt
Article IV - Powers of the Rosebud Sioux Tribal Council Section 1. Enumerated powers - The Council of the Rosebud Sioux Tribe shall exercise the following powers subject to any limitations imposed by the statutes or the Constitution of the United States, and subject further to all express…
Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation: Jurisdiction/Territory Excerpt
ARTICLE I - TERRITORY AND JURISDICTION Section 1. The authority and jurisdiction of the Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation shall extend to the fullest extent possible, including, without limitation, (a) to any and all persons, including non-members and members of the Prairie Band …
Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians: Elections Excerpt
ARTICLE V NOMINATION AND ELECTIONS Section 1. All elections shall be conducted by secret ballot. The candidate or issue receiving the greatest number of votes cast shall prevail. In the event more than one representative is required to be elected for a district, the positions shall be filled…
Seneca Nation: Terms of Office Excerpt
SECTION I. Our government shall have a legislative, executive, and judiciary department. The legislative power shall be vested in a Council of sixteen members, who shall be known and called the Councillors of the Seneca Nation of Indians, eight Councillors elected to the Council shall be from the…
Skokomish Indian Tribe: Terms of Office Excerpt
ARTICLE IV - TRIBAL COUNCIL Sec. 4. Terms of Office Each Tribal Council member shall be elected for a term of four (4) years. Terms of office for the seven (7) council members shall be staggered, two (2) members being elected each year for three (3) consecutive years and one (1) member…
Hoopa Valley Tribe: Recall, Removal, & Vacancies Excerpt
ARTICLE VII - VACANCIES, REMOVAL, RECALL AND REFERENDUM Section 1. If any member of the Tribal Council or other elected official shall die, resign, be removed from office or shall be found guilty while in office of a felony or misdemeanor involving moral turpitude in any Indian, State or Federal…
Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes: Terms of Office Excerpt
ARTICLE VI - LEGISLATIVE BRANCH Section 3. Terms. District Legislator's shall serve four year staggered terms of office. A Legislator shall be eligible to serve three consecutive terms under this Constitution. Upon the completion of the third consecutive term, the Legislator shall not be…
Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes: Legislative Functions Excerpt
ARTICLE VI - LEGISLATIVE BRANCH Section 1. Composition. The Legislative Branch shall be comprised of one Legislature. The Legislature shall consist of four Cheyenne Districts and four Arapaho Districts. Each Cheyenne District shall have one Cheyenne Legislator and each Arapaho District shall have…
Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians: Amendments Excerpt
Article XIII - Amendments This constitution and bylaws may be amended by a majority vote of the qualified voters of the tribe voting at an election called for that purpose by the Secretary of the Interior, provided that at least forty percent (40%) of those entitled to vote shall vote in such…
Cherokee Nation: Amendments Excerpt
Article XV. Initiative, Referendum and Amendment. Section 9. No convention shall be called by the Council to propose a new Constitution, unless the law providing for such convention shall first be approved by the People on a referendum vote at a regular or special election. Any amendments,…
Crow Tribe: Amendments Excerpt
ARTICLE XII - AMENDMENTS This Constitution may be amended by a two-thirds (2/3) vote ofthe Crow Tribal General Council provided that at least thirty percent (30%) of the Crow Tribal General Council vote in an election called for the purpose of amending the Constitution. The process to propose…
Gila River Indian Community: Legislative Functions Excerpt
ARTICLE VI–QUALIFICATIONS OF OFFICERS Section 1. No person shall be elected or hold office as Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Chief Judge, Associate Judges, or Councilmen unless he (1) is a member of the Community; (2) has reached the age of twenty-five (25) years; (3) has been living in the…
Standing Rock Sioux Tribe: Distribution of Authority Excerpt
ARTICLE VII - DISTRICT ORGANIZATION Each district recognized under Article III, Section 2, hereof, may organize local District Councils and elect District officers to consult, make recommendations and advise the Tribal Council, the Superintendent of the Reservation or officer in charge, and the…
The Constitution of the Carcross/Tagish First Nation: Preamble Excerpt
MISSION STATEMENT The Carcross/Tagish First Nation is mandated to protect the environment, health and wellness, education and aboriginal rights of our citizens; to continue to preserve and protect our culture, traditions, and languages; to protect and develop our natural resources and strengthen…
Yavapai-Apache Nation: Executive Functions Excerpt
ARTICLE VII - THE EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT Section 1. Executives. The Executive Department shall consist of the Chairperson, Vice Chairperson, Secretary and Treasurer of the Tribal Council and such other persons as the Tribal Council or their designee may find necessary for the administration of tribal…
Mohegan Tribe: Executive Functions Excerpt
ARTICLE IX. - POWERS AND DUTIES OF THE TRIBAL COUNCIL Section 3. - [Powers and Duties of Chair.] The powers and duties of the Chair of The Tribal Council shall include, but not be limited to, the following: (a) to serve as the chief executive officer of The Tribe and as head of the executive…
Teslin Tlingit: Governmental Structure Excerpt: Government
5. GOVERNMENT 5.1 The government of the Teslin Tlingit Council shall be based upon the traditional Clan system of government. 5.2 The citizenship and organization of each Clan shall be determined by the customs inherited and observed by the Clan and acknowledged by the other Clans. 5.3 Each…