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Received: 2003
Article VII - Vacancies and Removal
Article VIII - Powers of the Governing Body
Article I - Duties of Officers
Received: 2003
We, the adult members of the Cedarville Rancheria, in Modoc County, California,
in order to establish a formal organization and to secure the privileges and
powers provided for by the Indian Reorganization Act of June 18, 1934 (48
Stat. 984), do hereby ordain and establish this constitution and bylaws.
The name of this organization shall be the Cedarville Rancheria hereafter referred
to as the Rancheria.
The jurisdiction of this organization shall extend to the land now within the
confines of the Cedarville Rancheria and to such other lands as may hereafter
be added thereto.
(a) All persons of the Rancheria whose names appear on or are entitled to appear on the Official Census Roll, dated July 18, 1954;
(b) Person of California Indian descent who reside on the Cedarville Rancheria, California, and have resided there continuously for a period of at least two (2) years, at the time of adoption of this constitution, provided they make application for enrollment and provided further they receive a majority vote of the community council;
(c) All lineal descendants of persons eligible for membership under Section 1(a) & (b) above provided such descendants reside on the Rancheria
Section 2. No person shall be a member of the Cedarville Rancheria
if he:
(a) Was a member of any tribe or band of Indians when its trust relationship with the Federal Government was terminated except those persons listed as dependent members on final rolls of California Rancheria or whose tribal status has been reinstated by the courts;
(b) Has been allotted on another reservation or on the public domain;
(c) Is officially enrolled with or is recognized as a member of another tribe or band. A "recognized" member of another tribe or band of Indians is a person who has received a land-use assignment or payments by reason of membership in another tribe or Rancheria, except through inheritance;
(d) Has relinquished, in writing, his membership in the Cedarville Rancheria
Section 3. The governing body shall adopt an enrollment ordinance,
subject to the approval of the Secretary of the Interior, governing future membership,
loss of membership, and the adoption of new members, and prescribe rules and
procedures by which the membership roll shall be prepared and thereafter kept
current.
Section 2. The community council shall elect from its members,
by secret ballot, an executive committee of a chairman, a secretary and a treasurer,
who shall hold office for three years or until their successors are duly elected
and installed. Such other committees may be appointed or elected as from time
to time may be deemed necessary.
Section 1. Regular meetings of the community council shall
be held on the first: (1st) Sunday in January of each year at 2:00 p.m., at
a place designated by the executive committee. Special meetings may be called
at any time by the chairman and shall be called promptly upon receipt of petitions
signed by a majority of the qualified voters requesting such meetings.
Section 2. A majority of the qualified voters shall constitute
a quorum at all meetings of the community council. Notices of all community
council meetings shall be given in writing at least two (2) weeks in advance
of the meetings.
Section 3. Meetings of the executive committee may be called
by the chairman, or in his absence by the secretary or treasurer when deemed
necessary. Two (2) members of the executive committee shall constitute a quorum
for the conduct of its business.
Section 1. The executive committee in existence on the
effective date of this constitution and bylaws shall continue to function until
those officials elected at the 1978 election, pursuant to this constitution,
are duly installed in office.
Section 2. All elections of officers shall be by secret ballot.
Regular elections of officers shall be conducted at the January meetings of
the community council each third (3) year in accordance with an election ordinance
adopted by the executive committee.
Section 3. To serve as an officer, a person must be enrolled
as a member of the Rancheria and be at least eighteen (18) years of age.
Section 4. Any enrolled member of the Rancheria who is eighteen
(18) years of age or older shall be entitled to vote in tribal elections.
Section 1. If an officer shall die, resign, be recalled
from his office, permanently leave the community or shall be found guilty in
any State or Federal Court of a felony while in office, the office shall be
automatically vacated.
Section 2. Upon receipt of a petition signed by thirty (30) percent
of the qualified voters requesting the recall of an officer, the executive committee
shall call a special community council meeting to hear the charges against the
official. It shall at the same time notify the accused in writing of the charges
against him and of the date, hour and place of the council meeting at which
time he may appear and answer those charges. After the accused has had an opportunity
to be heard by the community council, a secret ballot vote for or against recall
will be conducted. The decision of a majority of those present and voting shall
govern, provided that at least fifty (50) percent of those eligible to vote
shall vote. If the majority vote is for recall of the accused official, his
office shall automatically be vacated and the community council shall proceed
to nominate candidates and elect a replacement official who shall serve the
unexpired term of office. Such community council meeting shall be held within
ten (10) days of the date that a valid petition for removal action is filed
with the executive committee.
Section 1. The community council of the Cedarville Rancheria
shall exercise the following powers subject to any limitations imposed by Federal
law and the Constitution of the United States;
(a) To negotiate with Federal, State and local government;
(b) To retain legal counsel, the choice of counsel and the fixing of fees to be subject to the approval of the Secretary of the Interior or his authorized representative;
(c) To veto any proposed sale, disposition, lease or encumbrance of tribal lands, interest in lands or other tribal assets of the community;
(d) To advise the Secretary of the Interior with regard to all appropriation estimates for Federal projects for the benefit of the Cedarville Rancheria prior to the submission of such estimates to the Office of Management and Budget and to Congress;
(e) To establish such housing and other authorities as are necessary to promote the welfare of the community;
(f) To control future membership, loss of membership and the adoption of members.
Section 2. The executive committee shall have the following powers,
but shall not commit the Cedarville Rancheria to any contract, lease or other
transaction unless it is authorized in advance by a duly enacted ordinance or
resolution of the community council;
(a) Carry out all ordinances, resolutions or other enactments of the community council;
(b) Represent the Cedarville Community council in all negotiations with Federal, State and local government and advise the community council of the results of all such negotiations.
Section 3. Any rights or powers heretofore vested in the Cedarville
Rancheria but not expressly referred to in this constitution shall not be lost
by their omission but may be exercised by the adoption of appropriate amendments
to this constitution.
Section 1. The protections guaranteed to persons by Title
II of the Civil Rights Act of 1968 (82 Stat. 77), against actions of a tribe
in exercising its powers of self-government, shall apply to the Cedarville Rancheria
its officers and all persons within its jurisdiction.
Section 1. This constitution and bylaws may be amended
by a majority vote of the community council at an election authorized for that
purpose by the Secretary of the Interior, provided that at least thirty (30)
percent of those entitled to vote shall vote in such election.
Section 2. Amendments in writing, may be proposed by any two
members of the community council. The proposal shall be referred to a committee
appointed by the chairman. The committee shall report upon the proposal at the
next meeting of the community council at which time a vote shall be taken as
to its submission to the Secretary of the Interior. It shall be the duty of
the Secretary of the Interior to call an election on any proposed amendment
upon receipt of a petition by one third (1/3) of the eligible voters of the
community, or upon the submission of a resolution duly adopted by a majority
of the community council. No amendment shall become effective until it has been
adopted in an election called by the Secretary of the Interior and approved
by him.
Section 1. Each officer, elected or appointed hereunder,
shall take an oath of office prior to assuming the duties thereof, by which
oath he shall pledge himself to support and defend the Constitution of the United
States and this constitution and bylaws. Oath: I, ________________ do solemnly
swear that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against
all enemies; that I will carry out, faithfully and impartially, the duties of
my office to the best of my ability; that I will promote and protect the best
interest of my community in accordance with the Constitution and Bylaws of the
Cedarville Rancheria.
Section 1. The following order of business is hereby established
for all meetings:
1. Call to order by the chairman
2. Roll call
3. Ascertainment of a quorum
4. Reading of the minutes of the last meeting
5. Adoption of the minutes by voice vote
6. Treasurer's report
7. Unfinished business
8. Reports
9. New business
10. Adjournment
This constitution and bylaws, when adopted by a majority vote of the qualified
voters, voting at an election authorized for that purpose by the Secretary of
the Interior, provided that at least thirty (30) percent of those entitled to
vote shall vote in such election, shall be submitted to the Secretary of the
Interior for approval, and if approved, shall be effective from the date of
such approval.