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AMENDED CONSTITUTION
AND BYLAWS OF
THE SAN
CARLOS APACHE TRIBE OF
ARIZONA UNITED
STATES DEPARTMENT
OF THE INTERIOR BUREAU
OF INDIAN AFFAIRS GOVERNMENT
PRINTING OFFICE WASHINGTON
: 1957 AMENDED The
Constitution and Bylaws of the San Carlos Apache Tribe of the San Carlos
Reservation, Arizona, is amended as follows: PREAMBLE We,
the people of the San Carlos Apache Tribe of the San Carlos Reservation,
Arizona, in order to exercise the duties and responsibilities of a
representative tribal government, do ordain this Constitution and Bylaws. ARTICLE
I-STATEMENT OF PURPOSE SECTION
1. In our relation to the United States Government, a relation similar to that
which a town or a county has to State and Federal governments, our own internal
affairs shall be managed, insofar as such management does not conflict with the
laws of the United States, by a governing body which shall be known as the San
Carlos Council. ARTICLE
II-TERRITORY SECTION
1. The authority of the San Carlos Apache Tribe shall extend to all of the
territory within the boundaries of the San Carlos Reservation and to all lands
which may be acquired for the Tribe or which the Tribe may acquire for itself. ARTICLE
III-MEMBERSHIP SECTION
1. The membership of the San Carlos Apache Tribe shall consist of: (a)
All persons who are members of the Tribe on the date when this revised
constitution is finally approved. (b)
All children of one-fourth or more San Carlos Apache Indian blood who are born
to resident members, and all children of one-fourth or more San Carlos Apache
blood born to non-resident members if such non-resident members declare their
intention of maintaining membership in the Tribe. The method of declaring
intention of membership shall be determined by ordinance of the Council. (c)
The Council shall have the power to pass ordinances, subject to review by the
Secretary of the Interior or his authorized representative, governing future
membership, loss of membership, and the adoption of members by the San Carlos
Apache Tribe. ARTICLE
IV-GOVERNING BODY SECTION
1. The governing body of the San Carlos Apache Tribe shall be known as the San
Carlos Council and shall consist of a chairman, vice-chairman and nine members
to be chosen as follows: Chairman,
by popular vote of the Tribe; Vice-Chairman,
by popular vote of the Tribe; Three
members, by popular vote of the Bylas District; Two
members, by popular vote of the Gilson District; Two
members, by popular vote of the Peridot District; Two
members, by popular vote of the Seven Mile District. SEC.
2. Districts Defined. For purposes of voting and representation on the
Council, the districts shall be defined as follows: BYLAS
DISTRICT shall include all members living in the entire Bylas Community; GILSON
DISTRICT shall include all members living on Gilson Wash west and south of
Quarry Wash and north of the Farm Station; PERIDOT
DISTRICT shall include all members living in the community south of the Farm
Station and on both sides of the San Carlos River; SEVEN
MILE DISTRICT shall include all members living within the area east of the
Quarry Wash and north of the point where the Quarry Wash runs into the San
Carlos River. SEC.
3. Organization of Council. The Council shall choose, either from within
its own membership or from the outside, a secretary, a treasurer, and such other
officers as it may consider necessary. SEC.
4. The Council, from time to time, may by ordinance change the foregoing number
and distribution according to the growth of population. SEC.
5. First Election. The first election of councilmen under this amended
constitution and bylaws shall be held on the next regular election date
following the adoption and ratification of the amended constitution and bylaws.
In the first election the candidate in each district receiving the highest
number of votes shall hold office for four years. The other candidates elected
shall hold office for two years. In each regular election thereafter one
candidate shall be elected from each district and shall hold office for a term
of four years, except in the Bylaws District which shall elect two candidates at
every other election, such candidates to hold office for four years. SEC.
6. Term of Council Members. Members of the Council shall take office on
the first Tuesday of the first month after their election. SEC.
7. Council Chairman and Vice-Chairman. The Chairman and Vice-Chairman of the
Tribal Council shall be elected for a term of four years by popular vote of the
Tribe. Candidates for such office shall possess the qualifications required of
candidates for Council membership, as set forth in Article II of the Bylaws,
except as to residence. The candidates for Chairman and Vice-Chairman need only
be residents of the San Carlos Reservation. Such elections shall be held under
the same rules as the election for council members and the Chairman and
Vice-Chairman of the Tribal Council shall take office on the same day that the
council members take office. ARTICLE
V-POWERS OF THE COUNCIL SECTION
1. The San Carlos Council shall have the following powers: (a)
To represent the Tribe and act in all matters that concern the welfare of the
Tribe, and to make decisions not inconsistent with or contrary to this
Constitution and Bylaws or the Constitution and Statutes of the United States; (b)
To negotiate and make contracts with the Federal, State and local governments; (c)
To advise the Secretary of the Interior or his representative on all activities
that may affect the San Carlos Reservation, and on all appropriation estimates
and Federal projects for the benefit of the Tribe before such estimates and
projects are submitted to the Bureau of the Budget and to Congress; (d)
To employ legal counsel, the choice of counsel and fixing of fees to be subject
to the approval of the Secretary of the Interior, so long as such approval is
required by Federal law; (e)
To veto the sale, disposition, lease or encumbrance of tribal lands, interest in
lands, tribal funds or other tribal assets that may be authorized by any agency
or employee of the government; (f)
To protect and preserve the wildlife and natural resources of the Tribe; to
regulate hunting and fishing on the reservation; (g)
To cultivate Indian arts, crafts and cultures; (h)
To administer charity; (i)
To regulate the uses and disposition of tribal property and funds, provided,
that any grant or lease of any portion of the Reservation for grazing purposes
or relinquishment of any water rights on the Reservation must be authorized by a
two-thirds majority of tribal votes cast in an election called by the tribal
council for that purpose and, provided further, that the total vote cast shall
be not less than three-fifths of the total eligible voters; (j)
To manage all tribal economic affairs and enterprises in accordance with the
terms of the Corporate Charter of the Tribe; (k)
To levy and collect taxes; (l)
To appropriate tribal funds for public purposes; (m)
To enact ordinances, subject to review by the Secretary of the Interior,
establishing and governing tribal courts and law enforcement on the Reservation;
regulating domestic relations of members of the Tribe, but all marriages shall
be in accordance with State laws; providing for appointment of guardians for
minors and mental incompetents; regulating the inheritance of real and personal
property of members of the Tribe within the Reservation; and providing for the
removal or exclusion from the Reservation of any non-member of the Tribe whose
presence may be injurious to the people of the Reservation; (n)
To enact ordinances governing the activities of voluntary associations
consisting of members of the Tribe organized for purposes of cooperation or
other purposes; (o)
To regulate its own procedures; to appoint subordinate committees, commissions,
boards, tribal officials and employees not otherwise provided for in this
Constitution and Bylaws, and to prescribe their salaries, tenure and duties; to
charter and to regulate subordinate organizations for economic and other
purposes; (p)
The Council may exercise such further powers as may be delegated to the San
Carlos Apache Tribe by the Secretary of the Interior or by any other qualified
official or agency of the Government; (q)
The foregoing enumeration of powers shall not be construed to limit the powers
of the San Carlos Apache Tribe, and such powers may be exercised through the
adoption of bylaws or constitutional amendments. ARTICLE
VI-REVIEW BY THE SECRETARY SECTION
1. Any resolution or ordinance which, by the terms of this constitution, is
subject to review by the Secretary of the Interior, shall be presented to the
Superintendent of the Reservation within six days after the passage by the
Council. The Superintendent shall, within six days after its receipt, approve or
disapprove the same. If
the Superintendent shall approve any ordinance or resolution, it shall thereupon
become effective, but the Superintendent shall transmit a copy of the same,
bearing his endorsement and the date his signature was affixed thereto, to the
Secretary of the Interior, who may, within 90 days from the date of enactment,
rescind the said ordinance or resolution for any cause, by notifying the council
of such rescission. If the Secretary shall fail to act within the 90-day period,
the ordinance or resolution shall remain in effect as of the date of the
Superintendent's approval. If
the Superintendent shall refuse to approve any resolution or ordinance submitted
to him, within six days after its receipt, he shall advise the Council of his
reasons therefor. If these reasons appear to the tribal council insufficient, it
may, by a majority vote, refer the ordinance or resolution to the Secretary of
the Interior, who may, within 90 days from the reenactment date approve the same
in writing, whereupon the said ordinance or resolution shall become effective. ARTICLE
VII-RIGHTS OF MEMBERS SECTION.
1. All members of the San Carlos Apache Reservation shall be accorded equal
political rights and equal opportunities to participate in the economic
resources and activities of the tribe, and no person shall be denied freedom of
conscience, speech, association or assembly or the right to petition for the
redress of grievances. ARTICLE
VIII-ELECTIONS SECTION
1. Regular Elections. Regular elections to vote for councilmen shall be
held every two years un the first Tuesday in April. Regular elections to vote
for Chairman and Vice-Chairman shall be held every four years on the first
Tuesday in April. SEC.
2. Special Elections. Special elections shall be held upon call by the
Tribal Council as provided in Article IX, and notice of them shall be given as
in the case of general or regular elections. SEC.
3. Notice. All elections shall be announced by special notice posted at
least thirty days before tile election at the voting places and other convenient
public places. SEC.
4. The voting places shall be: one at San Carlos Agency and another at Bylas and
others as may be established by the Council. SEC.
5. Candidates. Names of candidates nominated by the districts for their
councilmen shall be posted for a period of at least twenty days prior to
election. SEC.
6. Nomination of Chairman and Vice-Chairman. At least twenty days before
nominations of candidates for council membership are made at district meetings,
not more than four candidates nor less than two for each office of Chairman and
Vice-Chairman shall be nominated at a general mass meeting called for that
purpose. SEC.
7. Nomination of Council Members. Nominations shall be made at mass
meetings of the respective districts for the office of councilman. Each district
shall nominate at least four candidates for each position of councilman. SEC.
8. Manner of Voting. All elections shall be by written ballot. The
council shall have power to prescribe ordinances governing the casting and
canvassing of ballots, the manner of conducting district meetings for
nomination, and other necessary details of election procedures covering
elections of councilmen and officers and referendum elections. ARTICLE
IX-REMOVAL FROM OFFICE SECTION
1. Forfeiture of Office. If a Chairman or Vice-Chairman or member of the
Council fails or refuses to attend two regular meetings in succession unless
excused due to illness or other causes for which he cannot be held responsible,
or shall be convicted of a felony or of a misdemeanor involving moral integrity,
his office shall be forfeited, and a special election called by the Council
shall be held to replace him. SEC.
2. Removal from Office. If a Chairman or Vice-Chairman or member of the
Council shall fail in the performance of the duties assigned to him, he may be
subject to recall. The Council may by a two-thirds vote, after affording the
accused member a fair opportunity to be heard in his own defense, require such
member to stand for reelection of the district which he represents. SEC.
3. Resignation and Replacement. Any councilman resigning or by death
taken out of his office shall be replaced only by a special election in the
respective district. ARTICLE
X-RESERVATION LAND SECTION.
1. The reservation land shall as a whole remain tribal property and shall not be
divided by allotment of any parts to individuals or groups of individuals as
private property that could be sold at will; but assignment of land for private
use may be made by the council in conformity with ordinances which may be
adopted on this subject, provided, that the rights of all members of the tribe
be not violated. ARTICLE
XI-REFERENDUM SECTION
1. Upon a petition of at least fifty percent of the eligible voters of the
Tribe, or upon the request of the majority of the members of the Tribal Council,
any enacted or proposed ordinance or resolution of the Tribal Council shall be
submitted by the Council to a popular referendum and the vote of the majority of
the qualified voters in such referendum shall decide whether the ordinance or
resolution shall thereafter be in effect and subject to Secretarial review where
such review is required: Provided, that one-half or more of the eligible voters
shall vote in such referendum. ARTICLE
XII-AMENDMENTS SECTION
1. 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 thirty percent of those
entitled to vote shall vote in such election; but no amendment shall become
effective until it shall have been approved by the Secretary of the Interior. It
shall be the duty of the Secretary of the Interior to call an election on any
proposed amendment at the request of the Council, or upon receipt of a petition
signed by one-third of the qualified voters of the Tribe. BYLAWS
OF THE SAN CARLOS APACHE TRIBE ARTICLE
I-DUTIES OF OFFICERS SECTION
1. Chairman of the Council. The Chairman of the Council shall preside
over all meetings of the Council, shall perform all duties of a Chairman and
exercise any authority given him specifically by the Councilor by a general
meeting of the Tribe. The Chairman shall have power to vote. SEC.
2. Vice-Chairman. In the absence of the regular Chairman the
Vice-Chairman shall preside and shall have all powers, privileges and duties of
the Chairman. He shall have power to vote at any meeting. SEC.
3. Secretary. The secretary shall conduct all tribal correspondence and
it shall be his duty to submit promptly to the Superintendent of the
jurisdiction and other appropriate offices of the Bureau of Indian Affairs,
copies of all minutes of regular and special meetings of the Council. SEC.
4. Treasurer. (a) The Treasurer shall accept, receipt for, keep and
safeguard all funds in the custody of the Council. He shall deposit all such
funds as directed by the San Carlos Council and shall keep an accurate record of
such funds and shall report on all receipts and expenditures and the amount and
nature of all funds in his custody to the Council at regular meetings and at
such other times as requested by the Council. He shall not pay or otherwise
disburse any funds in custody of the Council except when properly authorized to
do so by the Council. (b)
The books and records of the treasurer shall be audited at least once a year by
a competent auditor employed by the Council, and at such other times as the
Council may direct. (c)
The treasurer shall be required to give a surety bond satisfactory to the
Council and the Commissioner of Indian Affairs or his authorized representative.
(d)
The treasurer shall be present at an meetings of the Council unless prevented by
circumstances beyond his control. (e)
All checks shall be signed by the treasurer and shall be countersigned by the
Chairman of the Council, or in his absence by some other officer designated by
the Council. ARTICLE
II-QUALlFICATIONS OF COUNCILMEN SECTION
1. Any member of the Tribe who is not employed by the Federal or State
government, who has reached the age of twenty-five years, who is a resident of
the district which he is to represent, and who is able to read and write, shall
be qualified to be a candidate for election to the Council. No person who has
been convicted of a felony, or who within the last year preceding the election
has been convicted of a misdemeanor involving moral integrity shall be eligible
to hold office in the Council. The following misdemeanors and no others shall be
considered misdemeanors involving moral integrity: adultery, bribery,
embezzlement, extortion, fraud, forgery, misbranding, perjury and theft. ARTICLE
III-MEETINGS OF THE COUNCIL SECTION
1. First Meeting. At the first meeting of the Council after a regular
election, the Council shall see that all members have a correct and clear
understanding of the Constitution and Bylaws and the management of the tribal
and reservation affairs, as well as the rules for the conduct of their own body.
SEC.
2. Regular Meeting. The Council shall meet officially on regular meeting
dates which shall be on the first Tuesday in each month at nine o'clock a. m. In
case the time of the regular Council meeting on the first Tuesday of each month
should conflict with a national, state or tribal election, or shall fall on a
holiday, the meeting shall be held on the following Wednesday. SEC.
3. Special Meetings. Special meetings of the Council may be called by the
Chairman, or the Chairman shall call a special meeting upon written request of
three or more members of the Council. SEC.
4. Conduct of Business. In the conduct of business, recognized rules of
order shall apply. Voting at the Council meeting may be by voice, but at the
discretion of the Chairman or upon the request of any two members of the Council
a secret vote shall be taken. SEC.
5. Quorum. Matters of business for the Council shall be decided by a
majority vote. A quorum ( a number competent to transact business) of the
Council shall be constituted if six or more members are present. SEC.
6. Restriction of voting in the Council. In any matter coming before the
Council which involves the Indian Bureau or any person or company, no member of
the Council that may be permanently connected with the party so involved shall
be permitted to vote without the special consent of the remaining members of the
Council. ARTICLE
IV-MEETINGS OF THE TRIBE SECTION
1. The Council shall from time to time call meetings of all voters of the Tribe
to lay before them such matters as may come before such a general meeting. A
general meeting of the Tribe shall be called upon request of a majority of the
qualified voters of any district. ARTICLE
V-LAW AND ORDER SECTION
1. It shall be the duty of the Council to provide through the necessary bylaws
or ordinances for the establishment of a tribal court upon the reservation. SEC.
2. This court shall have jurisdiction of such petty offenses, not falling within
the exclusive jurisdiction of the Federal or State courts, as may be enumerated
in the ordinances or bylaws of the Tribe. SEC.
3. This court shall have jurisdiction over all disputes between Indians on the
reservation, and over such disputes between Indians and non-Indians as may be
brought before the court by stipulation. SEC.
4. The duties, jurisdiction, and procedure of this court shall be more fully set
forth by bylaws or ordinances. SEC.
5. The judges of this court shall be appointed by the Tribal Council. SEC.
6. It shall be the duty of the Council to establish by ordinances a tribal
police force. Such ordinances shall outline in detail the authority and duties
of such tribal police force and the manner in which such police force shall be
selected by the Council. ARTICLE
VI-FEDERAL EMPLOYEES SECTION
1. The Council shall request the Superintendent to furnish it with the names of
all civil service probationers or temporary employees under civil service
regulations on the San Carlos Reservation that are nearing the end of their
probationary periods, and shall advise with the Superintendent in the matter of
their being given permanent positions as civil service employees on the
Reservation. ARTICLE
VII-ADOPTION SECTION
1. This revised Constitution and Bylaws, when adopted by a majority vote of the
qualified voters of the San Carlos Apache Tribe of the San Carlos Reservation,
voting at a special election called by the Secretary of the Interior, in which
at least thirty percent of those entitled to vote shall vote, shall be submitted
to the Secretary of the Interior for his approval, and shall be in force :from
the date of such approval. CERTIFICATION
OF ADOPTION Pursuant
to an order approved December 15, 1953, by the Assistant Secretary of the
Interior, the foregoing amended Constitution and Bylaws of the San Carlos Apache
Tribe was submitted for adoption to the qualified voters of the San Carlos
Apache Tribe and was on February 23 and 24, 1954, duly ratified by a vote of 405
for, and 402 against, in an election in which at least 30 percent of a total of
1,606 eligible voters cast their ballots in accordance with Section 16 of the
Indian Reorganization Act of June 18, 1934 (48 Stat. 984), as amended by the Act
of June 15, 1935 (49 Stat. 378). JESS
J. STEVENS Acting
Chairman, San Carlos Tribal Council ROBERT KEY Acting
Secretary, San Carlos Tribal Council THOMAS H. DODGE APPROVAL I,
Douglas McKay, Secretary of the Interior of the United States of America, by
virtue of the authority granted me by the Act of June 18, 1934 (48 Stat. 984),
as amended, do hereby approve the attached amended Constitution and Bylaws of
the San Carlos Apache Tribe of the San Carlos Reservation, Arizona, to be
effective as of February 24, 1954, the date of the ratification election. Approval
recommended: GLENN
L. EMMONS DOUGLAS
MCKAY Secretary
of the Interior [SEAL] WASHINGTON,
D. C., April 19, 1954.
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