Newspapers / The Carolina Indian Voice … / May 26, 1994, edition 1 / Page 6
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The Constitution of the Lumbee tribe of Cheraw Indians Final Draft as Devised by Lumbee Constitution Assembly May 14,1994 ?f'JaS' ioahM trite wt TrlkTot^mv r?<<iM yt? tfcj* o??tltwtlow for t?y ??????? of ?tobiiohioq ztfj? iniir^ poojTotr>?r?rtfor*th? tlttou I. tMilIwi Ml Mrlaliotlon. ^ 1. Tba tarrltsry of tba MM Drlto of Omcw Indiana aball f2eral*I^d^itlrvul^! <teroli*4*' for "" ,U,IJ? ?f <uliv*r* of k). all raal prapaatj ar natoral rianitcii ownad by tba Irika add bald in troat faa It by tba onltad Mataa; and a). tba bawdarlw of any raaarvatloa of tba Triba that ata praalalbad aa aaab by tba taaratary of tbo Intorior. antand' '"lbl^wdar |j2^UctlM> aball aictand to tbo falloot lnuItl ?' ? all anr ol lad aaabars of tba Triba, without ragard to b). all paraaaa, propsrty, and aativitiaa looatad ar tab lay plaoa upon tba Triba'a torritory. Artlola XX. biail irillip 1. Tba yanaral naobarship of tbo triba aball oonalat of tbooa "Varaooa aba apply for anrollaant and dananotrato dtract daaoant froo a paraon llatad an tawroa Pnnaaanti, wbieh ara liatad on Wabiblt A to tbia Constitution and inoocporatod bar* in by mfaranoa, and aba aaintain oontaot with tbo Triba. 3. Wotwltbotandinp alifibility atbarwiaa, no poraon'a application for anrollaant aball bo aooaptad if tba applicant baa not hiatorloally or doaa not prooantly aaintain oontact with tba TTiba. 1. Wotwitbatanding eligibility otbarwiao, no poraon'a application for anrollaant aball bo aooaptad if tba appliaant in an oarollod unbar of any otbar Indian triba, unlaoa tba applicant baa rallnqulabad in writing bio ar bar aaaborablp In aucb triba. ?. for purpoaaa of aloctiona on tba adoption of tbia ooaatltution and tba flrot tribal offloera baraundar, tba voting ganaral niMaarablp aball oonalat of tbooo aanbora of tbo Triba who ara aifbtoon (lk) and oldar. Tharaaftar, tba voting oanoral ^ "v. *?*" duly adagtad tribal ordinanoa(a). I. Tba tribal nniiaoll aball bavo authority to anaot auch tribal ardinaocaa povaming tribal aanbarablp aa ara oonalstant with tbia and atbar artiolaa of tbia oonatitution. Art la la XXX. Oiatribution of powars. 1. Tba powaca laniaal bar a In and tbona powara nacasaary and prapaa to tba exarciee of tbooo powars arpraasad ha rain ara da lag at ad to tba apaoifiad branch of pnvainnant by tba ganaral l^nWll of tbo baabaa Triba. Tboaa powars not dalagatad Kara in raaecved* potare aball' inoVui""1 ''** a). The pant to rooall any elected oiiiomi or rai liialin Trlba of cherav Indiana who la In tha aaoond calandar yaar or later In hia or bar toro. A rooall alootIon aba11 bo bold whoa tha following occurs: I). a petition bearing tha signatures, nanoo, addraoeee, and onrollaant nunhora of at loaot ona hundred <100) eligible aotora fron tba dlatrlot electing a tribal official or five hundred (900) aliolbla votera for tba tribal ebalrporoon, atatinf tba official aub)ect to recall with tba raaoon tbaraforo In ona hundred (100) aorda or laoo, and daolgnatlng throe slonaterlae aa a Patltlonor'a Coonlttoa, la filad with tba Tribal Electlone II). upon certification of tba signatures on the petition and within no nore than flwa (9) daya of lta receipt, tha Ueotioa board ahall carve a copy of tba petition upon tba nanod tribal official, oho ahall have fifteen (15) daya fron tha date of aald notioo to raapand to tha reaoone stated in tba petition In ona hundred (100) words or loan; ill). ianadlately upon rooaipt of any reaponoo, tba Bleatlan board ahall oarwa all nanbara of tba Petitioner's nuna Ittee with a oopy of tha eane; iw). the Petitloner'a Coanittee ahall have forty five (??) daya fron tba date of roooipt of the reaponoo to oollaet additional signatures upon tbolr petition; v). tba blootlono board ahall oonduct a rooall alootian within ton (10) daya of tho roeubniaalon of tba petition, provided that tha petition la signed by forty (40) percent of tho entire eligible to vote for tha nonod tribal official; vl). if at loaot thirty (10) percent of the voters eligible to vote far tho offioa participate in tha rooall vote and a ualority of thaas voting vote in favor of racall, tba blootlon board ahall declare tho offioa vacant and tha vacancy ahall bo filled in aooordanee with tha appropriate provialone of thla oanotitatlan, onoapt that tho rooallod tribal official ahall not bo qualified to ran for offioa in that apeeial alootian; vii). if a rooall election on a tribal offleial fella to ahtala a aajority of thoaa voting, tho blootlon board ahall not oartlfy any rooall patltion egalnat that tribal official far a alniw of a la nontha thereafter. b). iho power to initiate a voto on a tribal ordinance. * voto an on initiative ahall bo hold when tho following oooorai addrooooo and ' Unapt**''1"" bMrln* tjM olgnatureo, nanao, aligihla votera, abating tho prapoaod torso of a tribal ordlnaneo! and daaignotlng throe aignatarioa aa a Patltlonor'a Coanittee, la filed with tho Tribal fleotlona board; u . upon oartlf loatlori of tM nlgnnturoa on urn potltlon nod within no nor* than fin (?) doya of lta rocolpt, tbo ?1 >0*1 WW Board nhall nnrww a copy of tha petition bearing tbe ?ta*praoooa^t r P^'nTT TTT ^J^r*k*X? wote UMnlTit'lta nart rogwlarly scheduled nesting, Bat no ooro than thirty (N) dope Iftoc lta rooolyt frao tha tlootlon Board) 111), tho Uootlooa Board ahall notify all nanhnra of tho Botltlonor'a IflHH of tho tribal oaunoll'a action on tho )M)iBil tribal ardlaanaa within flwo (?) daya of oooh notion) mboM tha pcapaaad QCdlnonoa la natonaotod or la hawo thirty oV)1 'doya*firon'thelr**rooolyt?oT notion of tribal ooonoll notion to oolloet additional aiynotnroa upon thoir potltlon proposing a tribal ardinanoo) v). tha Blootiono Board ahall oonduot an aloot loo apon tho ntapaaal tribal ordinanao within ton (id) doya of tho rnowbnlootan of tho potltlon proposing tho tribal ordlnanoa, pro?Hed that tho potltlon la algned by thirty (M) poioont of allylhlo votarai vi). if at loaot thirty (SO) paroant of tho ollflhla wotara partioiynto in tho initiation oloatlan and a na )or lty Of thoao wot in* veto la fawor of tho prapaaad ordlnanoa, tho IW^I^drilhthMa^a ardlnanm daly an a at ad law of aodlnanoaa^ia ? i^Tr lanoa'wltb*thTpS^lono^f'artio'o ? a act loo 'i Bawola. I. tha paaara da loyal ad to tho laylalatlwo, aaaaatlwo, aad Judicial braaahaa. oaaayt aa aapraaaly paaaldad In tbla Oanatlhatlaa,, ahall ho^ iiparata^and dlatlnat and na branch ahall Article IV. Tribal Council. Triba^of bLn"rJ^idT^ t^ tribal* Cornell. ^uch legislative power aba 11 include tba imrtirt of annual tribal m?iH) howowar, tnmpste aba 11 ba auactad into tribal law following McMbctal tribal hearing(o) antilgits proposed^by witb the provisions this Constitution, adopt' rulaa and two ounooawtlwu'^eroa.^ tha^^rlvilaga to run far alaotion to tba Triba abo at tba aaMaaoabaafc of tba tarn of or flea far which tba oawbar atanda for alootiooi a), ara ovar tba ana of twawty aa? (31); b). bava aaiatainad thoir principal placa of woHimi la tba part leu lop council diatrict for which tba ???> iri atand for oloot ion no laaa tbaa tba pconodlng ola (?) aaotba; c). ara not iacaroaratod upon conviction for any of faoaa or bava coaplatad a aaataooa for a folony oonvletloo laaa tbaa aowaa years bofora, with tba tarn aantonoa aa uoad b ara in to inolada any pariod of raatriotloa on civil rights; and 4). bold ao otbar publicly elected government of floe or no otbar appointad or alaetod tribal effloa at tba tioa of tab lap offloa. 1. Tba council aball consist of twanty-ena (31) aaabars vbo bill ba alactad fro* diatricta within (uatm territory. Wim dlatricta aballi a), bava boundariaa daoeribad and drawn en Exhibit I to ; this constitution; b). be redrawn witblo one (1) year following the publication of eacb decennial federal ceneua to naintaln equal voting right# for tribal neabor; | e) . for purpeoao of tba fir at alaction of tribal oouncil aaabara only, be liaitad in torn ao follows: oouncil aawbere froo districts 1, 4, 7, 10, 11, Id and It aball serve one (1) year terns; council members froa dlatricta 3, ?, ?, 11, 14, 17 and 20 aball serve two (2) year terns; and oouncil members from dlatricta 1, 0, 0. 12, It. 10 and 31 aball serve three (1) year tares; di. oouncil Mibtr shall hold ooMRtfilty Mttlnas within bis or her district no lees than four (4) tines a year, with a aininua of tan (10) calendar days advance notice of such Beatings to bo pootod at the offices of the tribal oouncil. 4. The council iHn aball alact froo their aaabara tba following officers: a), a speaker, who aball preside ovar council noatInge; b). a vice-speaker, vbo shall preside over council isstliiQW In ths aboonoo of ths tpsaksr; e). a secretary, who aball ovarsaa tba saintananoa of all rsoerda of proceedings of the council and tribal ordinances; d). a treasurer, who shall owagsas council proceedings ho prepare annual tribal budgets. S. All proceedings of the tribal council ahall be conducted In public session, except for prooeodlngs certified in advance by the speaker as lap11eating privacy rights of a tribal aaployee or asnbar. bo prooeodlngs of the tribal council shall take place in the absenos of a quorum which ahall oonstltute two-thirds (2/)) of the sitting oounell nowhere and all daoiaiosis of the tribal council ahall require an affirmative vote of the majority of present council naabera, ascapt that the tribal oounell can override a veto of a tribal ordinanoe by the tribal chairperson only by a two thirds (2/3) of all sitting oounell nanbers. S. Mo ordinance enacted by tbe tribal council ahall be binding and effective until such ordinanoe has been posted in a place reserved for this purpose at the offices of tbe tribal council for a period of ten (10) oalondar days following its enactment, provided that ouch ordinance was not certified for referenda or vetoed by tbe tribe! chairperson in accordance with Article V, section 1 (b) and (o) within that period. The tribal oounell ahall periodically publish in s newspaper of general distribution in Luabee territory a oalondar of prooeodlngs showing all oounell actions taken and the address and phone number where oopias of ordinances are available. 7. Any council nsaber who is absent froa three consecutive regularly scheduled meetings of the council shall be renewed froa office, provided that such absences are unexcused in accordance with a governing tribal ordinance. A vacancy in a tribal oounell seat will also occur aatcaatloally upon the death of a tribal oounell aaaber or the ooourrenoe during that member's tern of any circuastanoe listed above in section 2 that would have disqualified the asnbar froa serving upon the tribal council. vacancies in tribal council seats shall bo filled as follows: a). If a tribal council seat beooass vacant for any reason and one calendar year or leas reaains in the tern of the i). the, candidate reeeiviag the second highest vote total in the moat recent election for that seat will serve the raaainder of the tern', assuming such candidate remains qualified and is willing to serve; ii). if no candidate described in (a)i above is available or willing to serve, the tribal council ahall appoint a person who would be qualified to stand for election to that seat to serve the remainder of the tern. b). If a tribal council seat beooass vacant for any reason and aore than one calendar year raaaina in the tern of the vacAiit Mat, than: i). a special election ahall be conducted to fill tha vacancy, and 11). the newly elected council aaaber ahall serve out the reneinder the vacated tern. Article v, Tribal Chairperson. W All executive powers. Including iapleaentation of and oeaplianca with annual budgets, of tha Innbee Tribe of cherav Indiana shall raeida in a tribal chairperson, who shall causa all lawe of tha Hashes Tribe to be faithfully executed. Specifically, tha tribal chairparaon shalli a). deliver to the general neabarahip an annual state of tha tribe addreee during tha first weak of July, which address shall include a proposed budget for tha upoonlng fiscal year; " b). within ton (10) days of its passage by the tribal oouncll, certify for referendun by the general voting nenbership any tribal ordinance that affects fundaaantal rights or interests ef the Luabee Tribe of Cherav Indians. Any ordinance iaposing a tax or authorising gaming in I indue territory shall be daaaed to affect fundaaantal rights or interests of the Tuahai Tribe ef Cherav Indiana. Mo ordinance oertlflad as requiring a referendua shall he effective unless and until each ordinanoa is approved by a majority of those voting in tha referendua, provided that thirty (10) percent of the voting general mastership participated in the referendua. c). have authority to veto any ordinance enacted by tha tribal council) 1 d). with the advlae and consent of tha tribal council, aaploy a tribal adalniatrator, who shall oversea tha day to day execution of all tribal laws and delivery of all tribal progress and shall serve at tha pleasure of the tribal chairperson; o). represent tha Inatiss Tribe of Cherav Indians before all other governments and tribunals, including the United States, the State of Morth Carolina, and all federal and state agencies. 1. The chairparaon shall be elected by the voting general neabarahip for a tern of four years, and shall not serve aore than two oonseeutlve terms. The privilege to run for tha office of tribal chairparaon shall bo limited to those mashers of the fnahee Tribe vho at the onsaencaaant of tha term: a), are thirty-five (IS) years of ago or aero; b). have aaintalned his or her principal place of residence in territory of the Tnahae Tribe for the preooding aim (?) son the; c). la not incarcerated upon conviction for any offense or who, lees then seven (7) years preceding, has aoapleted a sentence for a felony conviction, with tha tarn sentence ao used herein to include any period of restriction on eivil righto; aad d). hold no other publicly elected government offloo or no other elected or appointed tribal office at tha tins of taking offloa. - -- ? - -eel ? Ornikal nhs i rnhTAOB 3? K vioiwcy sitill occur in uw omw v* m r? tarn of ZTolr cxiaata ana llitMl abova la HctlM 1 that MM kaw diaquallflad tba obalrparaon froa raimlnt for off loa. DM11 tka appolntaant or olaotlan of a aueoaaaor, tka dpaatar or beting dpaatar of tka tribal oouncll aba11 aorva temporarily aa noting tribal ohalrparaoa. Vaoanclaa la tka offloa of tribal obalrparaon aba11 ba flllad aa followai a). Zf a vacancy oocura la tba offloa of tribal obalrparaon with ooa oalandar yaar or laaa roaalalng la tba tor* of offloa, tbaa tba tribal oooooil aha 11 appoint aa tribal i). tba candidate raoalvlng tba aaouad blabaat ??bar of wataa la tba aaot raoaat alactlaa for tba offloa aba 11 ba appointed, aaoanlng aaeb oandldata ranalna goalIfled and la willing ' 11). If aa aaab oandldata la aval labia or wllllap ta aarva, tba tribal l niinll ahall appalat a gaolIflad ?lot ir to fill oat tba raaalndar of tba tan. b). Zf a namy aooaro la tba offloa of tribal ohalrparaaa wltb aaro tbaa ana aalandar yaar raaalnlnp la tba tan of 0f f tffcMl I). a apaalal alootlan aba 11 ba aaadaatai ta fill tba raaalndar af tba tan, and II). tba nawly alaotad obalrparoan aba 11 aarva ant tba raaaladar af tba vooatad tan. brtlala at. MlaUry. Tba jodlclal power af tba Uadkaa trUa of ebaraa^ Zadlana ?oak inforlor cou^a*aT^Aa^trIba?'omnell'aay ^ttabllab.*" tba Iwrladlatlaa owar all aaaaa and aantiaierdlao aria lap andar tba Uahao Caanatttatton and all wdlaaaim af tba UMMMblla^(| 3. The nil of law to be ?pli?l U the W>r?i Court of tto ' ? ? Constitution la all nam and controversies within lta ^lflnal^juriadiction ?hall be the will of th* Uaabaa people ^ea ordinances, and bafeM cuatoo. In tha abeyance of a fawning ruin of law U*m thaaa aouroaa, tha governing rula shall ho fodara{ 1. Tha r g I H Court of tha 1 nr i r Constitution shall consist* of flva sitting judges, oka shall aarva flws year tarns; so judge - say aarva two ooosaoutivo tarna. Thaaa judges shall hsvs tha qualifications and ba aalaotad as set out holowi a). with tha esoaptlon of tha aiaiaaa ag? roquirannt, tha qualifications for tribal chalrparaon specified la Artie la g, ?action a, shall apply to judges of tha Supraaa Court of tha Tnahn Cocuititut ion; b). at all tlaaa, throa of tha sitting judges shall bo graduate# of aoerodltod law schools and two shall ba lay people; e). tha tribal chalrparaon shall noalnata two Candida too for appolafnnil to tha hprui Court of tha lnaba? Constitution froa oach of flva jadicial districts with tha following boundaries; district ana ahall constituta that araa in bchnaon county north of B.C. Highway 74 and sast of Interstata M; district two, that araa in IbIiubi Couaty aouth of B.C. Highway 74 and aaot of Interstate M; district throa, that araa In hobsaon County aouth of B.C. highway 74 and wast of Interstate 75} district four, that araa la Babfaon County north of B.C. Highway 74 and wast of Interstate W; and district flva, all ?-] territory outsIda Bobaann County. Tha tribal council ahall appoint five judges froa those ncalnatod by the tribal chairperson; d). there ahall ha a Chief Judge of the Supreae Court of the tiadu constitution who shall boar administrative raaponalhilltiaa far tha conduct of tha court's business. I Article viz. Elections Board. 1. There ahall be an Independent (lections Board of tha limhae Tribe of Cheraw Indiana which ahall have tha following authority! a). to proaulgata necessary and appropriate regulations under authority of this constitution and tribal ordinances govorning voter registration and tha oonduet of all regular and special tribal elections; b). to oonduet all recall. Initiative, and rafarandum proceedings; and c). any other natters specif lad herein or authorised by tribal ordinance. 3. Tha (lections Board shall consist of five (9) enrolled nanbars over tha ago of eighteen (it). Tha tribal chairperson shall noalnata two candidates for the (lections board froa each of tha judicial districts described above In Article VI, section 1(d); tha tribal oouncil shall appoint tha aaubars of tha Board froa those nouinatad by the tribal chairperson. 1. Any natter decided or oartified by the (lections Board shall ba deenad final tribal action and shall ba reviewable by tha Supreae Court of tha Tnahaa Constitution. Article VIII. Duty of Loyalty. 1. Every ?lactad and appointed tribal official empowered harain aha 11 affini upon taking offica that ha or aha will abida by thia oonatitution and lawa of tha Lumbea Triba of Charaw Indiana and will, to tha boat of hia or har ability, perform hia or har dutias with undlvidad loyalty to tha Luabaa Triba of Charaw Indiana. 2. Tha firat tribal council alactad undar thia conatitution aha 11 adopt an ordinance proscribing conflicts of intaraata in tha performance of dutiaa by alactad and appointed tribal officiala, which ordinance shall require a tribal official to recuse hia or herself froa any decision or vote affecting his or bar pecuniary interest or-a faally naaber. Article IX. Adoption. ? 1. For purpoees of thia article, tha delegates of tha T nahee constitutional asaenbly shall serve as a tenporary electoral i mom!salon to conduct tha public hearings and elections required by i this article. Unless otherwise specified, tha asaenbly shall be deemed to have taken foraal action by a favorable vote of a majority of those delegates who names appear as in attendance at assembly meetings held on July 11, 19*1, and November 20, 1993. As a temporary electoral commission, the constitution assembly shall adopt all neoaaaary regulations' and procedures governing the required public hearings and elections. All authority of the oonatitution assembly, as a temporary electoral oounission or otherwise, shall lapse upon either tha rejection of the constitution at the election held for that purpose or upon the certification by it of elections results for tribal offleers under the constitution, whichever occurs first. 2. Upon a motion made to approve the constitution and passed by a two-thirds majority of the constitution assembly, this constitution shall be deemed complete and ready for submission to the Timhaa Triba of Cheraw Indians. Within thirty (10) days of this vots, the constitution assembly shall cause the proposed constitution to be published in tha following newspapers: the Carolina Indian Voice, the Community News-Advertiser, the Fairmont Times Messenger, the Fayetteville Observer-Tines, the Laurinburg Exchange, the Raaford News Journal, the bed Spring Citizen, the Robesonlan, and the St. Pauls Review. 1. Tha constitution assembly shall conduct a series of pubjiic hearings on the proposed constitution, at the sites set out belew, with a schedule for ouch hearings showing location and dates to.be published along with the text of the proposed constitution ps prescribed by section two above: a). Puma 11 Swett High School b). South Robeson High School c). Fairgrove Middle School d). Rex Rennert Elementary School e). oxendlne school f). Magnolia elementary School g). South Hoke Elementary School h). Scotland High School . i). Cumberland County Association for Indian People j). St. Paul High School k). Littleflaid Elementary School ?' f The constitution assembly shall maintain a complete record of fll i - ----- either written or oral, mads at these hearings. " ? ' 4. Within thirty ()0) days or ma un nutni ?? ?action throa above, tha conat itut ion assembly aha 11 hava a final Meting to oonaider all public oriMinta. Thla Mating aha 11 ha cipati to tha public and aha 11 ba liaitad to iaauaa raiaad at public hearings ha Id undar aaction two abowa and raviaiona to tha oonatitution baaad tharaon. 9. If any raviaiona ara nada by tha oonatitution aaaanbly at ita final Mating, tha raviaad oonatitution a hall ba publiahad in tha nauapapara liatad in aaotion two abova within fiva (9) days of tha final Mating. A final public bearing shall ba bald on tha raviaad oonatitution no aoonar than thirty (30) days and no longer than forty-five (49) days after tha final seating of the oonatitution aaaanbly, with notice of tha final hearing being given along with tha publication of tha raviaad constitution. 9. Within thirty (10) daya of tha final public hearing or the final aaating of tha constitution assembly if no raviaiona ara Mda, tha oonatitution aaaanbly shall conduct an election on the adoption of tha constitution. 7. If a majority of those voting favor adaption of ?be oonatitution, tha constitution aaaanbly shall certify tha rosplt and tha oonatitution aa having been adopted by tha T.unhaa Tribe. Within sixty (days) of tha adoption of tha constitution, the oonatitution aaaanbly shall conduct elections for all tribal officers undar the oonatitution. Upon certification of those election results, tha tribal officers shall aaauma responsibility and oouMnoa tribal govamnant operations undar thla constitution. Article 1. tnMktnt. s 1. An mndMnt to the constitution can bo propoood by eit)|ar two-thirds veto of tho tribal council or by a petition bearing !the signatures of two thousand (2,000) voting general nanboro of tho trlbo eighteen yoara of ago or oldor. Upon oortlflootIon by tho elections board of a proposed ansndnent to tho constitution, the Elections board shall within tan (10) working days post the pcopoeed aoendnant at ^preprints public plaoss and publish the proposed aoandnant in nowepepsre of panaral distribution. 2. Within sixty (00) days after the poetise and publication of a |ii epeeed aaandsant, the kl set ions board shall oonduct a adept id upon the najority wots of goaliflad voters voting in tho apseis1 election. If adopted, the elections board shall wl?$in flws (I) days of tho special election poet the seanhant at appropriate public plaoss and publish the asandnant in newspapers' at* general distribution with notion of its adeptlun by apodal* election, lbs aaiuihnat shall heeose affective ton (10) working days after its posting and publication. - . ? For further information, contact: jj CONSTITUTION ASSEMBLY \ OF THE LUMBEE TRIBE Rev. Earney Hammonds, Chairperson Post Office Box 3058 Pembroke, NC 28372 , 910*521-1647
The Carolina Indian Voice (Pembroke, N.C.)
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May 26, 1994, edition 1
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