# PETITION FOR VOTE FOR PROPOSED REVISIONS TO THE KAW CONSTITUTION

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## Record

- **Collection:** Tribal code
- **Document type:** Tribal code

## Text

PETITION FOR VOTE FOR PROPOSED REVISIONS TO THE KAW CONSTITUTION
GENERAL STATEMENT
On April 10, 2011 the Kaw Nation Constitution Committee collected signatures on the following
petition to call for a vote on their draft Kaw Constitution. The draft follows the petition. The
petition here is intentionally left blank to protect the names and addresses of the signers. The
Committee collected 42 signatures. The Kaw District Court has set a hearing at 1:30 pm, on
May 2nd, 2011 to review the petition.

Pursuant to the Amendment (ratified Oct. 13, 2006) of the Kaw Nation Constitution (ratified
August 14th, 1990), and Section 35 (e) of the Election and Voting Ordinance of the Kaw Nation, the
undersigned members of the Kaw Nation General Council call for a vote on amendments and revisions to the
Kaw Nation Constitution as stated in the proposed Amended Constitution, a copy of which is attached to this
Petition and made a part hereof.
By my signature attached hereto, I hereby certify the following: I am a member of the Kaw Nation
General Council (Member of the Kaw Nation, not adjudged mentally incompetent and over the age of 18 years
of age); I have been allowed to read this Petition including attachments without interruption; AND I call for a
vote by the Kaw Nation on the proposed Amended Constitution attached to this Petition.

DATE

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PRINTED NAME

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TO CHAIRMAN OF THE KAW NATION GENERAL COUNCIL and THE DISTRICT COURT OF THE
KAW NATION:
I, _________________________________, a person circulating the above Petition for Vote for Proposed
Revisions to the Kaw Nation Constitution, do hereby affirm on oath and certify: That I witnessed the
signature of each person who has signed this Petition; I confirm the correct date of that signature; The above
signatures are authentic; and each person who affixed his or her signature to this Petition personally
represented to me that they were a member of the Kaw Nation General Council. Each of the above-signed
members was allowed to read this Petition without interruption.
______________________________________________
Signature
of
Circulator

CONSTITUTION OF THE KAW NATION

persons, houses, papers, and effects against unreasonable search and seizures, nor issue
warrants, but upon probable cause, supported by oath or affirmation, and particularly
describing the place to be searched and the person or things to be seized;

PREAMBLE

C.
Double Jeopardy. Subject any person for the same offense to be twice put in
jeopardy;
We, the People of the Southwind, known as the Kaw Nation established pursuant to the
Oklahoma Indian Welfare Act of June 26, 1936 (49 Stat. 1967), whose inherent sovereignty has
existed since time immemorial, trusting in our Creator to provide guidance in all our affairs, in
order to provide for the common health, safety, and general welfare, to protect, secure, and
advance the rights, culture, and traditions of the Kaw Indian people, do hereby ordain and
establish this Constitution for the government of the Kaw people, which shall supersede all
previous constitutions and any constitutional resolutions.
ARTICLE I: JURISDICTION

Section 1. Consistent with the government-to-government relationship the Kaw Nation has with
the United States of America, the authority and jurisdiction of the Kaw Nation shall extend to all
territory within the boundaries now known as Kaw Land and to all lands that may be acquired
for the Kaw Nation by the United States or which the Kaw Nation may acquire for itself, and to
all Indian country of the Kaw Nation and its citizens now or hereinafter defined by Federal law,
which shall include all natural resources, including but not limited to all water and air space
rights associated therewith.
Section 2. The Kaw Nation may exercise its authority and jurisdiction outside the territory described
above to the fullest extent not prohibited by Federal law.

ARTICLE II: BILL OF RIGHTS
Section 1. Civil Rights. The Kaw Nation, in exercising the powers of self-government, shall not:

D.
Self Incrimination. Compel any person in any criminal case to be a witness
against himself or herself;
E.
Eminent Domain.
compensation;

Take any private property for public use without just

F.
Rights of the Accused. Deny to any person in a criminal proceeding the right to a
speedy and public trial, to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation, to be
confronted with the witnesses against him or her, to have a compulsory process for
obtaining witnesses in his or her favor, and, at his or her own expense, to have the
assistance of counsel for his or her defense;
G.
Cruel and Unusual Punishment. Require excessive bail, impose excessive fines,
or inflict cruel and unusual punishments;
H.
Equal Protection and Due Process. Deny to any person within its jurisdiction the
equal protection of its laws or deprive any person of liberty or property without due
process of law;
I.
Habeas Corpus. Suspend the writ of habeas corpus under the laws of the Kaw
Nation except when in cases of rebellion, insurrection, invasion, or when public safety
requires it;
J.
Bills of Attainder and Ex Post Facto Laws. Pass any legislation directed against a
designated person, pronouncing him or her guilty of an alleged crime without trial or
conviction, or any ex post facto law, which retroactively changes the legality or
consequences of a fact or act after the occurrence of that fact or commission of the act;

A.
Freedom of Religion, Speech, Press, Assembly, and Petition. Make or enforce
any law prohibiting the free exercise of religion, or abridging the freedom of speech, or
of the press, or of the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition for a
redress of grievances;

K.
Trial by Jury. Deny to any person accused of an offense punishable by
imprisonment the right, upon request, to a trial by jury of not less than six (6) Kaw
Nation citizens; and

B.

L.
Right to Bear Arms. Make or enforce any law unreasonably infringing upon the
right of tribal citizens to keep and bear arms.

Searches and Seizures. Violate the right of the people to be secure in their

Section 2. Citizens Retain Rights. The enumeration of rights in this Constitution shall not be
construed to deny or disparage other rights retained by citizens of the Kaw Nation.

Section 2. Authority of the Tribal Council. The Tribal Council shall have the authority to establish by law:

Section 3. Access to Tribal Records. Subject to individual citizens’ of the Kaw Nation or employees’ of
the Kaw Nation rights to privacy and any express limitations contained in this Constitution, and the laws
of the United States, citizens of the Kaw Nation shall be provided access to review and copy the records
of the Kaw Nation including, but not limited to: budgets, financial reports of expenditures, and minutes
of all meetings of the Tribal Council or other subdivisions of the government; provided that such access
shall be provided during normal office hours. The General Council shall pass legislation recommended
by the Tribal Council to ensure reasonable access to these records which shall not be inconsistent with
this provision.

A.
The procedures for enrollment of persons eligible for citizenship pursuant to
Section 1(B).
B.
The procedures for disenrollment of a citizen of the Kaw Nation pursuant to
Article IV, Section 3, (C3).
Section 3. Judicial Review. Any enrollment decision by the Tribal Council of the Kaw Nation shall be
subject to judicial review in the courts of the Kaw Nation upon the filing of an appeal.

ARTICLE IV: GENERAL COUNCIL
ARTICLE III: CITIZENSHIP
Section 1. Qualifications. The citizens of the Kaw Nation shall include:

A.
All persons enrolled as of the date of ratification of this Constitution as citizens of
the Kaw Nation who met the citizenship requirements prescribed by the Kaw Nation.
B.
All persons who are descendants by blood of an original Kaw Indian allottee or
allottees whose name or names appear on the 1902 Kaw Indian Allotment Roll, except
the following persons:
1.
Those persons otherwise entitled to enrollment who, as adults, elect to be
enrolled with another tribe, provided that nothing in this Constitution shall
prohibit citizens of the Kaw Nation from claiming descendancy in other tribes.
2.
Those persons otherwise entitled to enrollment who, as adults, have
received any payments in land or money by virtue of having been enrolled with
some other tribe.
C.
No persons, otherwise eligible for enrollment, shall be denied enrollment because
they have purchased or received through inheritance land or money of another tribe or
because they are considered by another tribe as a member of that tribe by virtue of their
purchase or inheritance of such land or money or by the circumstances of their birth
without affirmative application for membership by or on behalf of such persons.

Section 1. The General Council shall consist of all citizens of the Kaw Nation, not adjudged mentally
incompetent by a court of competent jurisdiction, and who are eighteen (18) years of age or older.

Section 2. General Council Meetings. The Chair shall preside over all meetings of the General Council.
In the absence of the Chair, the Vice-Chair shall preside over said meetings. In the absence of the Chair
and Vice-Chair, the General Council shall select a Chair pro tempore for said meeting from the citizens of
the Kaw Nation present.

A.
Matters of business for the General Council shall be decided by a majority vote of
Kaw Nation citizens present. A quorum of the General Council shall consist of twentyfive (25) citizens of the General Council. A quorum must be maintained to conduct any
business.
B.
Special meetings of the General Council may be held upon the call of the Chair,
in his or her discretion, and shall be called by the Chair at the written request of a
majority of the Tribal Council, or of thirty (30) citizens of the General Council eligible to
vote. Special meetings shall be called to begin not less than twenty (20) calendar days
nor more than forty (40) calendar days after receiving the written request. Should the
Chair fail to set the date for the special meeting within fourteen (14) calendar days of the
written request, any member of the Tribal Council shall thereafter call the special meeting
to be held no more than forty (40) calendar days after the written request was received.
C.

Not less than ten (10) calendar days’ public notice of special meetings shall be

given as provided for by law. Such notice shall state the specific purpose or purposes of
said meetings, and whether other business may be conducted.

this paragraph shall have no force and shall be of no effect unless and until they have
been approved by a majority vote of the General Council at a properly called meeting.

D.
Quarterly meetings of the General Council shall be held on the second (2nd)
Sunday of each calendar quarter, provided that the Tribal Council may, upon public
notice at least thirty (30) calendar days prior to such date, reschedule said meeting to an
appropriate time not more than thirty (30) calendar days after the regular meeting date.
Public notice shall be given by the elected Secretary of the Kaw Nation or the Attorney
General in their inaction for all General Council meetings.

1. The sale, mortgage (except purchase money mortgages on the land being
purchased), or other alienation of tribally owned lands. Leases entered into
pursuant to Federal statute, revocable permits, and assignments under tribal
law where legal or trust title of the Kaw Nation remains unaffected are not
alienations for purposes of this subsection.

E.
All meetings of the General Council shall be held at an accessible place
designated by the Tribal Council within the limits of the territorial jurisdiction of the Kaw
Nation. All meetings of the General Council shall be conducted using Robert’s Rules of
Order as a general guide.
F.
Public notice as used in paragraph (C) and (D) of this section means that a notice
stating the time, date, place, and purpose of any General Council Meeting is mailed to
citizens of the Kaw Nation at their last known address, as shown on the citizenship roll.
Additional resources that are available and reasonable may be used to give the Kaw
Nation citizens notice of said meetings as provided for by legislation.
G.
All votes on substantive matters of the General Council, as determined by General
Council members present, shall be by secret ballot.
Section 3. General Council Powers. The General Council shall be the supreme legislative body of the
Kaw Nation.

2. The establishment, enactment, amendment, or repeal of legislation respecting
tribal elections, the Attorney General, access to tribal records, the Tribal
Council rules of procedures, salaries for elected officials, recall, or
impeachment of elected officials.
3.

The criteria and grounds for disenrollment of a citizen of the Kaw Nation
without his or her consent.

4. The exercise of the tribal power of eminent domain.
5. The General Council has the right to approve the appointment of judicial
officers except in a case as required by Article VIII, Section 4B.
If the General Council fails to act on actions under paragraph C of this section at a properly
called meeting for any reason, its approval shall be deemed to have been given if, and only if, a
statement or notice that such action would be considered was included in the public notice of the
meeting.
ARTICLE V: TRIBAL COUNCIL

A.
The General Council is empowered to assist the Tribal Council and may, at its
discretion, issue broad policy directives, which shall be dutifully pursued by the Tribal
Council. Such policy directives may include but not be limited to tribal strategic
planning goals in the areas of housing, health care, education, historic preservation, and
economic development.
B.
The General Council shall set the compensation of officials elected under
Article IX of this Constitution based upon the recommendations of a salary commission
consisting of (5) five people appointed by the Tribal Council and confirmed individually
by the General Council. Said compensation shall be set only at the first meeting of each
election year of the Chair, and any change in compensation so set shall take effect on
Inauguration Day.
C.

The five Tribal Council actions described under subparagraphs 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 of

Section 1. A Tribal Council shall be elected by secret ballot pursuant to an Election Ordinance approved
by the General Council. The officers of the Kaw Nation in office at the time of ratification of this
Constitution shall continue in office until their successors are duly elected and installed.

A.
The Tribal Council shall be composed of the following officers: Chair, ViceChair, Secretary, and four (4) Council Members. Candidates shall meet the requirements
for election outlined in Article IX of this Constitution.
B.
Regular meetings of the Tribal Council shall be held the second (2nd) Saturday of
each month at a Kaw Tribal Building in Kaw City, or within the limits of the territorial

jurisdiction of the Kaw Nation designated by the Tribal Council, and notice to the
members of the Tribal Council shall be mailed to them at least five (5) calendar days
prior to the date of each meeting, unless otherwise provided by resolution.
C.
If a meeting outlined in paragraph B of this article is changed, notice shall be
posted five (5) days prior to the original date including a rescheduled date at Kaw Tribal
entities as defined by law.
D.
Special meetings of the Tribal Council may be called by the Chair at his or her
discretion, and shall be called by the Chair at the written request of a majority of the
Tribal Council. Proper notice of special meetings shall be given, as provided for by law.
The purpose for the special meeting must be clearly stated in the notice and the Tribal
Council shall not at a special meeting consider any other business. Failure of the Chair to
call such meeting shall be subject to Article XI, Section 2.
E.
The Tribal Council shall provide for its own rules of procedure. These rules of
procedure shall be presented to the General Council for approval within ninety (90) days
after the ratification of this Constitution. Any amendments to these rules of procedure
shall be presented to the General Council for its approval.
F.
Matters of business for the Tribal Council shall be decided by a majority vote of
the members present. A quorum of the Tribal Council shall consist of five (5) members.
A quorum must be maintained to conduct any business.

make decisions not inconsistent with this Constitution.
B.
To negotiate and make contracts with Federal, tribal, state, and local
governments, and with any individual, firm, or company.
C.

To employ legal counsel to represent the Tribal Council.

D.
To veto the sale, disposition, lease, or encumbrance of tribal lands, or interest in
tribal lands, tribal funds, or other tribal assets which may be authorized by any agency or
employee of the Federal government.
E.
To regulate and provide for permits, leases, and assignments of land for business,
home site, and other purposes, and generally provide for proper use and development of
all tribal lands, natural resources, and other tribal property.
F.
To appoint Tribal Committees, appoint commissions, governmental boards, and
boards of Kaw Nation owned entities. A majority of appointees of each such committee,
commission, and board shall be Kaw Nation citizens.
G.
To establish and prescribe rules for governing tribal courts and tribal law
enforcement agencies, and to provide for the maintenance of law and order in territory
under Kaw Nation jurisdiction as defined by Article I of this Constitution.

G.
No Tribal Council member shall vote or participate on any matter coming before
the Tribal Council in which the member has a personal interest or in which the member
stands to gain or lose financially, unless the benefit or loss is shared by other Kaw Nation
citizens in similar circumstances.

H.
To protect and preserve the wildlife and natural resources of the Kaw Nation; to
regulate hunting, fishing, and trapping in territory under Kaw Nation jurisdiction as
defined by Article I of this Constitution.

H.
The Tribal Council shall document its meetings and all actions taken, including
listing all votes and how each member voted. Said records shall be available to the
citizens of the Kaw Nation as provided by law.

I.
To levy and collect taxes; to regulate the conduct of business; to charter public or
private business, financial, and similar entities; and otherwise provide for the
development of the economy in territory under Kaw Nation jurisdiction as defined by
Article I of this Constitution,.

Section 2. Tribal Council Powers. The Tribal Council shall serve as the legislative body of the Kaw Nation
and shall have the authority to act in and on all matters and subjects upon which the Kaw Nation is
empowered to act, now or in the future, including, but not limited to, the following:

A.
To represent the Kaw Nation and act in all matters that concern the health, peace,
safety, and general welfare of the Kaw Nation and all persons within its territory, and to

Section 3. Legislative and Veto Process. All legislation must be in writing. All legislation that is approved
by a majority vote of the members in attendance shall become effective, provided that the Chair shall
only vote to break ties. If the Chair disapproves of passed legislation, the Chair shall voice such
disapproval and submit such disapproval to the elected Secretary in writing within five (5) calendar days
after it has passed, and the Secretary shall attach such written disapproval to the Tribal Council minutes
without delay. After such disapproval, the resolution and minutes shall be presented to the General
Council at its next meeting. If a compromise has not been reached by the elected officials, the General
Council shall vote on the issue and its vote shall decide the approval or disapproval of the legislation.

J.

The foregoing enumeration of legislative powers shall not be construed to limit the powers of the Kaw
Nation and in no way shall be deemed an abdication or forfeiture of the Kaw Nation’s inherent
attributes of sovereignty, and such powers may be exercised through the enactment of legislation by the
General Council or Tribal Council.

Section 4. Secretary. The Secretary shall be the recording officer of the General Council and Tribal
Council and the custodian of its records, and shall perform the duties of Secretary during regular
business hours in an office established at the Kaw Nation. The duties of the Secretary are:

A.
To keep a record of all the proceedings of the Kaw Nation and to maintain record
books in which all ordinances, special rules of order, standing rules, minutes, committee
reports, commission reports, and board reports, and amendments are entered.
B.

ARTICLE VI: EXECUTIVE

Section 1. Executive Officers. The executive functions of the Kaw Nation shall be vested in the Chair,
the Vice-Chair, and Secretary.

Section 2. Chair. It shall be the duty of the Chair to preside at all meetings of the General Council and
the Tribal Council. The Chair shall have general supervision of the affairs of the General Council and
Tribal Council and shall perform all duties pertaining to the office of Chair, including the authority to
cause laws of the Kaw Nation to be faithfully executed and obeyed, and to carry out obligations
entrusted to the office of Chair. The Chair may, in his or her discretion, delegate his or her functions,
except as may be prohibited by law or by Section 3 of this article.

A.
The Chair shall provide the Tribal Council and General Council with an annual
written financial report and also provide such interim reports as the Tribal Council may
direct. The Chair shall cause all persons authorized to handle funds of the Kaw Nation to
be insured at the expense of the government of the Kaw Nation for a sum sufficient to
protect the Kaw Nation from loss of such funds.
B.
The Chair may hire employees who are necessary and appropriate to carry out the
functions and duties of his or her office, as provided by law.

To properly fund all offices established by this Constitution.

To keep the official roll of the citizens of the Kaw Nation as provided by law.

C.
To make the minutes and records available for inspection, review, and copying
upon request by any citizen of the Kaw Nation, unless declared confidential by
legislation.
D.
To provide such notice of meetings as required by this Constitution or legislation
of the Kaw Nation.
E.
To maintain records regarding oaths of office, to attest to the signature of other
governmental officers, and to certify as true, accurate, and complete copies of any records
of the Kaw Nation filed in the Secretary’s office.
F.
To prepare for Tribal Council and General Council meetings as outlined in the
Tribal Council policies.
G.
In the absence of the Chair and Vice-Chair, to call a meeting to order and preside
until the immediate election of a Chair pro tempore.
All papers, records, and effects of the Kaw Nation in the possession, custody, or control of the Secretary
shall be delivered to the Attorney General of the Kaw Nation upon the expiration or termination of the
Secretary’s term of office.

ARTICLE VII: ATTORNEY GENERAL
Section 3. Vice-Chair. The Vice-Chair shall perform the duties of the Chair in the event of his or her
absence or incapacity. If the office of Chair shall become vacant, the Vice-Chair shall succeed to the
office of Chair until a new Chair, who shall serve for the unexpired term, is properly elected and installed
in office.

Attorney General. There shall be an office of Attorney General. The Attorney General shall be a
member in good standing of the bar of the Supreme Court of the United States, or of any United States

Court of Appeals, or of any District Court of the United States, or a member in good standing of the bar
of the highest court of any state of the United States and need not be a citizen of the Kaw Nation. The
Attorney General shall represent the Kaw Nation in all criminal cases in the courts of the Kaw Nation,
and in all civil actions wherein the Kaw Nation is a party, and shall provide an opinion as to the
constitutionality of laws at the request of the Chair, Tribal Council, or General Council, and shall have
such other duties as may be prescribed by legislation and approved by the General Council. When the
Attorney General position is vacant the Tribal Council shall present three (3) candidates for Attorney
General to the General Council who shall select one for a term of three (3) years. The Attorney General
shall be authorized to designate such prosecutors and other assistants that are necessary to carry out
the duties of the office, and the Attorney General may only be removed from office in accordance with
Article XI, Section 3, of this Constitution.

General Council for a term of two (2) years, and shall undertake such judicial functions
as the Supreme Court may by rule provide.
B. Justices and Judges may be appointed by the Supreme Court to hear a specific case in
which the regular Justices or Judges are otherwise disqualified under rules established by
the Supreme Court.
C. All regular appointments shall occur in odd numbered years. A vacancy in a judicial
office shall be filled in the same manner as a regular appointment with the replacement to
serve the balance of the term of the vacated officer. Any Justice or Judge in office at
ratification of this Constitution whose term ends in an even year shall have his or her
term extended by one (1) year to meet this requirement. All future Justices or Judges
shall serve in accordance with Section 5 of this article.

ARTICLE VIII: JUDICIARY

Section 1. Establishment and Authority. The judicial power of the Kaw Nation shall be vested in one
Supreme Court consisting of three (3) Justices and such inferior courts as may be established by tribal
law.

Section 2. Jurisdiction. The Courts of the Kaw Nation shall be courts of general jurisdiction and shall
further have jurisdiction in all cases arising under the Constitution, laws, and treaties of the Kaw Nation.
The Supreme Court shall have original jurisdiction in such cases as may be provided by law, and shall
have appellate jurisdiction in all other cases.

Section 3. Qualifications. All Justices, Judges, and Magistrates shall be members in good standing of the
bar of the Supreme Court of the United States, or of any United States Court of Appeals, or of any
District Court of the United States, or members in good standing of the bar of the highest court of any
state of the United States and need not be a citizen of the Kaw Nation.

Section 4. Selection of Judicial Officers.

A. The Justices of the Supreme Court and Judges of inferior courts shall be selected by the
Tribal Council and confirmed individually by the General Council. Magistrates of
inferior courts shall be appointed by the Tribal Council and confirmed individually by the

Section 5. Term of Office. The Justices and Judges of the Kaw Nation shall serve four (4) year terms
beginning at the date of their confirmation in office and until their successor shall be duly confirmed and
installed. At the expiration of his or her term of office, each Justice or Judge shall, at his or her option,
be considered by the General Council for reconfirmation to a new term of office.

The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court shall employ and have supervisory authority over an
administrative staff, who shall have general administrative duties in the judicial branch and follow the
policies for employees of the Kaw Nation.

Section 6. Removal. Justices, Judges, and Magistrates of the Kaw Nation may be removed from office
only by a majority of the other active Justices and Judges sitting together upon a showing of habitual
neglect of the duties of office, oppression in office for personal gain or advantage, or conviction of, or
plea of guilty or nolo contendere to, a felony or other crime involving moral turpitude. In no case may a
judicial officer be removed from office because of his or her decision or vote in any case before the
court.

Section 7. Judicial Review. The courts are hereby specifically authorized to review, in any case properly
before them, the actions of the General Council, Tribal Council, or any officers, agents, or employees of
the government of the Kaw Nation to determine whether those actions are prohibited by Federal law,
this Constitution, or the laws of the Kaw Nation. If the action complained of is outside the authority of
the entity that acted, or if proper authority is being exercised in a prohibited manner, the court may
enter an injunction or other equitable relief or declare the action unconstitutional, illegal or void as
justice may require.

months after the vacancy occurs.
ARTICLE IX: ELECTION
Section 1. The Tribal Council shall enact appropriate legislation of the Kaw Nation not inconsistent with
the provisions of this Constitution that will govern the conduct of all elections. Said legislation prior to
becoming effective must be approved by the General Council pursuant to Article IV of this Constitution.

Section 2. In order to become a candidate for or be a member of the Tribal Council, a person must:

C.
Any special election held under this Section shall be conducted using guidelines
established by the Election Board not inconsistent with tribal legislation or this
Constitution.
D.
The Executive Officer or Tribal Council member taking office under the
provisions of this Section shall serve until the term of office for the vacant office he or
she is filling expires and their successor is duly elected and installed.
Section 5. All elections shall be by secret ballot. All citizens of the Kaw Nation shall be eligible to vote as
provided by law.

A.
Be a member of the General Council not less than twenty-five (25) years of age
on the date of the election; and
B.

Be one-thirty-second (1/32) degree or more of Kaw Indian blood; and

C.
Have earned a high school diploma or passed a General Educational
Development (GED) test.
Section 3. Disqualifications for candidates

Section 6. All elections shall be conducted by an Election Board pursuant to the laws of the Kaw Nation
and this Constitution. The Election Board shall consist of five (5) members who shall be Kaw citizens.
Members of the Election Board shall serve four (4) year staggered terms, and shall be nominated by the
Tribal Council and approved individually by a majority of the Kaw Nation citizens present and voting.

Section 7. All persons elected in a General or Special Election shall be installed in office by the 4th
Wednesday following an election at 12:00 noon.

A. No person may be a candidate for more than one (1) elected office at any election or hold
more than one (1) elected office in the Kaw Nation at any one time.
B. No person who shall have been convicted of a felony or any other crime involving moral
turpitude under the laws of the Kaw Nation, the United States, any Indian tribe, band, or
nation, or of any State, Territory, or Possession thereof, shall be eligible to hold any
elective office within the Kaw Nation, unless such person has received a pardon therefor.
Section 4. Vacancies. A vacancy in the office of either an Executive Officer or a Tribal Council member,
which results from death, resignation, forfeiture, removal, or recall shall be filled as follows:

A.
If fewer than eighteen (18) months remain in the term of office for the Executive
Officer or Tribal Council member, an individual shall be elected to fill such vacant
position at the next regular General Council meeting by a majority vote of the Kaw
Nation citizens present and voting.
B.
If more than eighteen (18) months remain in the term of office for the Executive
Officer or a Tribal Council member, a special election shall be held within three (3)

Section 8. To maintain staggered terms of office, the election of the Chair, Secretary, and two (2) Tribal
Council Members shall be separated by two (2) years from the election of the Vice-Chair and the other
two (2) Tribal Council Members. All elected officials shall serve four (4) year terms except as provided
for by Section 4 of this Article. All elected officials covered by this article shall be limited to two (2)
consecutive full or partial terms of office, and shall not be eligible to seek any elective office in the Kaw
Nation for a period of two (2) years after leaving office. Any official serving at the time of ratification
shall not be ineligible on account of this section from serving, if re-elected, one additional term of office
consecutive to the term being served at the time of ratification.

ARTICLE X: OATH
Section 1: All elected officers, the Attorney General, and Judicial Appointees shall, before entering upon
the duties of their respective offices, take and subscribe to the following oath or affirmation: I,
__________________________, do solemnly swear or affirm that I will preserve, protect and defend the
Constitution and Laws of the Kaw Nation and the Constitution of the United States of America. I will
perform the duties of my office with all honesty, integrity and sincerity. I will not allow my personal

feelings toward any person or situation to determine my decision on any matter. I will uphold the best
interests of the Kaw Nation. I will not knowingly receive directly or indirectly any money or valuable
thing for performance or non-performance of any act or duty pertaining to my office other than the
compensation allowed by law. These things, I faithfully promise myself and to each and every member
of the Kaw Nation so help me God.

Section 2: The forgoing oath shall be administered by a Kaw Nation Justice or Judge. A signed copy of
the oath shall be kept on file in the elected Secretary’s office.

Tribal Council and/or General Council as defined by its rules of policies;
2.
Conviction of (or a guilty or nolo contendere plea to) a felony under
Federal, tribal, or state law, or conviction of (or a guilty or nolo contendere plea
to) any other crime involving dishonesty or moral turpitude while in office;
3.
Inability to fulfill the duties of the office due to mental or physical
disability, to the extent of being incapable of exercising judgment about or
attending to the business of office;
4.

Gross misconduct or malfeasance in office;

ARTICLE XI: RESIGNATION, RECALL, AND IMPEACHMENT
Section 1. Resignation. Any officer of the Executive Branch or any member of the Tribal Council may
resign from his or her elected position by submitting written notice of resignation to the Chair who shall
present it to the Tribal Council at the next meeting.. If the Chair resigns, then it shall be given to the
Attorney General who shall present it to the Tribal Council at the next meeting. Such resignation is
effective upon receipt by the Tribal Council, unless otherwise noted in the written notice.

Section 2. Recall. The citizens of the Kaw Nation shall have the right to recall the Executive Officers or
any member of the Tribal Council by filing a recall petition with the Election Board. The petition must
contain valid signatures of Kaw Nation citizens eligible to vote equal in number to at least sixty percent
(60%) of the number of valid ballots cast in the most recent General Election for Chair. The Election
Board shall verify petition signatures and approve or deny the petition within fifteen (15) calendar days
of receipt. Once the petition is certified as valid and sufficient by at least three (3) members of the
Election Board, an election shall be called by the Chair for the purpose of presenting to the General
Council the subject of the recall. The recall vote shall be held within ninety (90) calendar days of the
validation of the petition. A recall election shall not be held within ninety (90) calendar days preceding
a regular General Election.

5.
Failure to take or pass a drug test(s) conducted by the Kaw Nation as
prescribed in the Tribal Council policies; or
6.

Failure to abide by the Kaw Nation Oath of Office.

B.
At least ten (10) calendar days before the meeting of the General Council at which
the vote for removal will be taken, the Executive Officer or Tribal Council member
subject thereto shall be provided by the Attorney General (or the elected Secretary if the
Attorney General is the subject of the action) with a written notice of General Council’s
scheduled vote on removal, which shall set forth with specificity the alleged grounds for
removal. The Executive Officer or Tribal Council member subject to removal shall be
provided with a reasonable opportunity to answer the charges at the public meeting of the
General Council before any vote for removal is taken. An affirmative vote of two-thirds
(2/3) of the members of General Council present shall be necessary for removal. The
decision of the General Council shall be final.
ARTICLE XII: INITIATIVE AND REFERENDUM
Section 1. The citizens of the Kaw Nation reserve unto themselves the power of initiative and
referendum.

Section 3. Impeachment.

A.
An Executive Officer, any member of the Tribal Council, or the Attorney General
may be subject to removal from office by a resolution of removal, which is not subject to
a veto, signed by five (5) of the seven (7) members of the Tribal Council for:
1.

Section 2. Initiative. Any issue shall be submitted for an initiative election pursuant to this section upon
receipt of a petition containing valid signatures of Kaw Nation citizens eligible to vote equal in number
to at least forty percent (40%) of the number of valid ballots cast in the most recent General Election for
Chair.

Absence without proper excuse for three (3) consecutive meetings of the

The petition shall be filed with the Election Board which shall determine its validity and sufficiency and
whether its content fairly describes the subject of the initiative within ten (10) calendar days. Once the
petition is certified as valid and sufficient by at least three (3) members of the Election Board, an
election shall be called by the Chair for the purpose of presenting to the General Council the subject of
the initiative. The initiative vote shall be held within sixty (60) days of the validation of the petition. The
results of the initiative vote shall be conclusive and binding, provided that a majority of the votes cast
are in favor of the initiative and at least two-thirds (2/3) of the eligible voters of the Kaw Nation shall
have voted in the election. No initiative shall void, modify, or amend any properly approved contract.

Section 3. Referendum. Any enacted or proposed legislation or other action of the Tribal Council shall
be submitted to a referendum vote pursuant to this section upon receipt of a petition containing valid
signatures of Kaw Nation citizens eligible to vote equal in number to at least fifty percent (50%) of the
number of valid ballots cast in the most recent General Election for Chair or upon written request of a
majority of the Tribal Council.

The petition shall be filed with the Election Board which shall determine its validity and sufficiency and
whether its content fairly describes the subject of the referendum within ten (10) calendar days. Once
the petition is certified as valid and sufficient by at least three (3) members of the Election Board, an
election shall be called by the Chair for the purpose of presenting to the General Council the subject of
the referendum. The referendum vote shall be held within sixty (60) days of the validation of the
petition. The results of the referendum vote shall be conclusive and binding, provided that a majority of
the votes cast are in favor of the referendum and at least two-thirds (2/3) of the eligible voters of the
Kaw Nation shall have voted in the election. No referendum shall void, modify, or amend any properly
approved contract

Section 4. Whenever reasonable, any initiative or referendum vote should be held in conjunction with
any general or special election.

Section 5. No initiative or referendum that has been submitted to the citizens of the Kaw Nation and
rejected shall be considered again until the next regularly scheduled General Election.

ARTICLE XIII: AMENDMENTS
This Constitution may be amended by a majority vote of the voters of the Kaw Nation voting in an
election called for that purpose, provided that at least thirty percent (30%) of those eligible to vote shall

cast ballots in such election.

Amendments to this Constitution may be proposed by a valid petition signed by at least thirty percent
(30%) of the members of the General Council or by a majority vote of the Tribal Council. The Chair is
without the power to veto a resolution that has passed the Tribal Council calling for a constitutional
amendment.

ARTICLE XIV: SAVINGS CLAUSE
Subject to all provisions of this document except Article IX, Section 2C, pertaining to obtaining a high
school diploma or GED, incumbent Tribal Council members shall continue to serve in their office until
the next General Election for their respective seat held under this Constitution. All legislation
heretofore adopted not in conflict with this Constitution shall continue in force unless and until they are
duly modified or repealed.

ARTICLE XV: ADOPTION
This Constitution shall be ratified by a majority vote of the voters of the Kaw Nation voting in an
election called for that purpose, provided that at least thirty percent (30%) of those eligible to
vote shall cast their ballots.

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Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/documents/tribal%3Akaw_nation%3Aa3756064649a6eca. Public record. Not legal advice.