Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head (Aquinnah) - Tribal Constitution

Last Amended: 2001

Disclaimer: Although every effort is made to present current and accurate information, if you need an official version of the tribe’s laws, please contact the tribe.

The tribe has not given permission to put the full text online. Full text of the 1995 constitution is available from the University of Oklahoma Law Center. For more assistance, please.

Table of Contents.

Preamble.
Article I. Name, territory, authority and status of tribe -- 1. Name. 2. Territory. 3. Authority. 4. Status of tribe. 5. Governmental entity.
Article II. Membership -- 1. Enrolled members. 2. Criteria for enrollment. 3. Enrollment. 4. Enrollment ordinance. 5. Resignation. 6. Limitation. 7. Adoption and honorary members. 8. Appeal rights.
Article III. Civil rights -- [Section 1]. 2. Full disclosure and equal opportunity. 3. Rights of members. 4. Claims.
Article IV. Governing body -- 1. Council. 2. Lifetime positions. 3. Subordinate officers.
Article V. Term of office and elections -- 1. Officers. 2. Tribal Council members. 3. Continuity of office. 4. Election ordinance. 5. Resignation. 6. Vacancies. 7. Procedure.
Article VI. Recall of Tribal Council member -- 1. Recall and removal. Article VII. Powers -- 1. Delegated authority. 2. Referendum. 3. Chairperson. 4. Vice-Chairperson. 5. Secretary. 6. Treasurer.
Article VIII. Open meetings -- 1. Open meetings. 2. Exceptions.
Article IX. Regular membership meetings -- 1. General tribal membership meetings. 2. Notices. 3. Annual meetings. 4. Quorum.
Article X. Special membership meetings -- 1. Special meetings of the tribal membership.
Article XI. Regular Tribal Council meetings -- 1. Meetings of the Tribal Council. 2. Changes. 3. Quorum.
Article XII. Special meetings of Tribal Council -- 1. Special meetings. 2. Validity. 3. Emergency special meetings. 4. Quorum. 5. Action without a meeting.
Article XIII. Judiciary -- 1. Authority to establish. 2. Procedure to establish. 3. Jurisdiction.
Article XIV. Continuity of action -- 1. Ratification of prior tribal action. 2. Savings clause.
Article XV. Sovereign immunity -- 1. Immunity and waiver. 2. Exhaustion of tribal remedies. 3. Jurisdiction.
Article XVI. Amendments.
Article XVII. Repeal.
Article XVIII. Ratification -- 1. Effective date. 2. Eligibility to vote.
Article XIX. Fiscal year.
Article XX. Anual report. Article XXI. Freedom of information -- 1. Members' right to information. 2. Freedom of Information Act procedures. Article XXII. Signatures -- 1. Signatures. 2. Quorum requirements.