Blackfeet Constitution

CONSTITUTIONFOR THE BLACKFEET TRIBE

Last Amended: 1998

We, the adult members of the Blackfeet Indian Tribe, pursuant to the authority vested in us by Section 16 of the Act of June 18, 1934 (48 Statutes at large, page 986), and amendments thereto, do hereby organize for the common welfare of said tribe and the members thereof, and for such purpose do adopt the following constitution for the government, protection, and common welfare of the said tribe and members thereof.

Article I - Territory

The jurisdiction of the Blackfeet Tribe shall extend to the territory within the confines of the Blackfeet Reservation boundaries as defined in the agreement of September 26, 1895; and to such other lands as may be hereafter added thereto under any law of the United States, except as otherwise provided by law.

Article II - Membership

AMENDMENT III

Section 1. The members of the Blackfeet Tribe shall consist as follows:

(a) All persons of Indian blood whose names appear on the official census roll of the tribe as of January 1, 1935.

(b) All children born prior to the adoption of this amendment to any blood member of the Blackfeet Tribe maintaining a legal residence within the territory of the Reservation at the time of such birth.

(c) All children having one-fourth (1/4) degree of Blackfeet Indian blood or more born after the adoption of this amendment to any blood member of the Blackfeet Tribe.
(AMENDMENT III APPROVED AUGUST 30, 1962)

Section 2. The tribal council shall have the power to promulgate ordinances, subject to review by the Secretary of the Interior, governing future membership and the adoption of new members.

Article III - Governing Body

AMENDMENT IV

Section 1. The governing body of the Blackfeet Tribe shall consist of a council known as the Blackfeet Tribal Business Council.

AMENDMENT IX

Section 2. The Blackfeet Tribal Business Council shall consist of nine (9) members duly elected from the four (4) districts of the Blackfeet Indian Reservation which are designated as follows: Browning District, Heart Butte District, Seville District, and Old Agency District.

The election of all Tribal Council members shall be submitted to the entire electorate of the Reservation, provided that no one shall be elected as a councilman who has not resided within the exterior boundaries of the Blackfeet Reservation for a period of 1 year immediately prior to being a candidate and who has not resided in the district from which he or she is a candidate at least six (6) months immediately prior to the time when he or she shall become a candidate for such office.

(AMENDMENT I & IV SUPERSEDED BY AMENDMENT IX

APPROVED APRIL 28, 1978)

Section 3. In lieu of the districts herein described the tribal council shall have the power to establish communities, and the basis of representation on the tribal council from such communities, subject to popular vote.

Section 4. (a) The tribal council so organized shall elect from its membership: (1) A chairman; (2) A vice chairman.

(b) The tribal council shall elect from within or outside of its own membership: (1) A secretary; (2) A sergeant-at-arms; (3) Such other officers and committees as may be deemed necessary.