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About Siletz news / (Siletz, OR) 199?-current | View Entire Issue (July 1, 1998)
Page 17 Tribal Government e nrolled ao a member of the tribe who dooo not moot the membershi p requirements act forth in Article I, Section 1 of this Conotitution. The Trib al Council shall establish an honorary membership roster for persona adopted by the Tribe who do not me et said requirements. Sec. 4. Loss of Membership The Tribal Council shall prescribe by ordinance rules and regulations governing loss of membership. The reasons for such loss shall be limited exclusively to failure to meet requirements set forth for membership in this Constitution. ARTICLE II - RIGHTS OF MEMBERS Section 1. Individual Rights Each duly enrolled member of the Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians of Oregon shall have the following rights: The right to equal opportunity to participate in the economic resources and activities of the Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians of Oregon in accordance with eligibility requirements set by the tribal and Federal governments; and the right to exercise traditional rights and privileges of members of the Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians of Oregon where not in conflict with other provisions of this Constitution, tribal laws and ordinances, or the laws of the United States. legislative authority, except that vested in the General Council, and executive authority of the government, including the right to delegate authorities as it deems appropriate. Said authority shall include but is not limited to the power to employ legal counsel, the choice of counsel and fixing of fccs-to be subject to the approval of the Secretary of the Interior ; to preventthe sale, disposition, lease or encumbrance of tribal lands, interests in land, or other tribal assets without the consent of the tribe; and to negotiate with the Federal, State and local governments. Sec. 2 Tribal Court. The Tribal Court shall consist of one Chief Judge and such Associate Judges and staff as are deemed necessary by the Tribal Council. The Tribal Court is empowered to exercise all judicial authority of the government. Said authority shall include but is not limited to the power to review and overturn tribal.legislative and executive actions for violations of this Constitution or of the Federal Indian Civil Rights A ct of 19 68 federal laws generally applicable to federally-recognized Indian tribes as well as to perform all other judicial and court functions. The Tribal Council shall set forth qualifications for Tribal Court Chief Judge, Associa t e J udges, and staff positions by ordinance, and shall appoint persons to fill said positions for a term of not less than four years for Chief Judge, not less than two years for Associate other fudges. During the tenure of his or her appointment, the Chief Judge, or another Associate J udge may be suspended or dismissed only for cause by two thirds vote of the total membership of the Tribal Council upon due notice and an opportunity for a hearing open to tribal members. Sec. 2 General Council All duly enrolled members of the Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians of Oregon who are eighteen (18) years of age or older shall constitute the General Council. In accordance with Articles V, VI, VII and VIII of this Constitution, the General Council shall have the power to: (A) Elect Tribal Council members and approve or disapprove any salary or wages paid for performance of Tribal Council duties; (B) Exercise the powers of initiative and referendum; (C) Recall elected tribal officials; (D) Amend this Constitution; and (E) Make advisory recommendations to the Tribal Council. (F) Tribal Council shall reasonably respond to concerns raised by the General Council at General Council meetings. ARTICLE III - AUTHORITY AND IMMUNITY OF TRIBAL GOVERNMENT The authority of the government established by this Constitution shall extend oyer all persons, subjects, and property now or hereafter included within the jurisdiction of the Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians of Oregon, except and only as limited by this Constitution and the laws of the United States. The government shall not inhibit any person's right to enjoy freedom of worship, conscience, speech, press, assembly and association, and other rights enumerated by Ffederal law?, which are generally applicable to federally- recognized Indian tribes. No provision of this Constitution shall be construed to waive the sovereign immunity of the Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians of Oregon. ARTICLE IV - BRANCHES OF GOVERNMENT Section 1. Councils. There shall be a General Council which shall exercise the powers set forth in Article II section 2, of this Constitution. The Tribal Council shall consist of nine members elected by the General Council to terms of three years each provided that each member's term shall continue until certification of his or her successor's election. The Tribal Council shall elect from its membership a Tribal Chairman, Vice Chairman, Secretary and Treasurer. The Tribal Council is empowered to exercise all ARTICLE V - PROCEDURES Section 1. General Council The General Council shall hold meetings in accordance with the following procedures, and shall exercise its electoral powers in accordance with the provisions of Article VI of this Constitution: (A) Regular meetings of the General Council shall be held beginning on the first Saturday of February, May, August and November, at a time and place to be set by the Tribal_Council. The February meeting shall include the annual election of the Tribal Council except as provided in Article VI, Section 5. (B) Special meetings of the General Council may be called by the Tribal Council upon one month's notice to the membership of the General Council. The Tribal Council may call such meetings upon its own motiorj, but. it must call such a meeting upon presentation of a properly verified petition signed by one-third or more of the General Council of the Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians of Oregon. (C) The agenda of the General Council meetings shall be set by the Tribal Council Chairman; provided that any member may submit in writing items to the Tribal Council Chairman for consideration for the agenda, and provided further that each agenda shall include time for discussion of items from the floor regardless of whether said items appear on the agenda. Agendas shall be sent to tribal members two weeks in advance of General Council meetings. ■ r (D) The Tribal Council Chairman shall chair General Council meetings. Sec. 2 Tribal Council. The Tribal Council shall hold meetings and take actions in accordance with the following procedures, which it may augment by its own rules of procedure so long as they do not conflict with any provisions of this Constitution: (A) Regular meetings of the Tribal Council shall be held each month at a time and place to be set by the Tribal Council. In case the time of the regular meeting conflicts with a National, State or tribal holiday, election or emergency, file meeting shall be held at the same hour and place one week later than scheduled. (B) Special meetings of the Tribal Council may be called by the Chairman at his or her discretion, but the Chairman must call a special meeting upon w«ting-written_request of three or more members of the continued next page ■«
