PREAMBLE TO THE CONSTITUTION
 RATIFIED
 We the people of the Indigenous Cherokee Nation, in order to form a more perfect union and in effort to preserve and enrich our tribal culture and to secure to ourselves and our posterity of the blessings of our unique ancestral heritage, culture, freedom and tribal sovereignty, do design and deliver the articles of this Constitutional Document to uphold. Gratefully acknowledging, with humility and reverence, the goodness of the Almighty Creator in permitting us to make a choice of our own form of government, thusly, in accordance with full respect all the rights of the Nation of Citizens inscribed in Article 2 of the Treaty of July 19,1866, as “all persons of African descent, resident in said nation at the date of the treaty of Fort Smith, and their descendants heretofore held in slavery among said nation, all the rights, privileges, and immunities, including the right of suffrage, of citizens of said nations, including Article 4 of the treaty with the Cherokee of July 19,1866, as "All the Cherokees and freed persons who were formerly slaves to any Cherokee, and all free egroes not having been such slaves, who resided in the Cherokee Nation prior to June first, eighteen hundred and sixty-one including  Article 5 ","The Cherokees residing in said district shall enjoy all the rights privileges of other Cherokees who may elect to settle in said district as herein before provided and shall hold the same rights and privileges and be subject to the same liabilities as those who elect to settle in said district under the provisions of this treaty and Article 9, "They further agree that all freedmen who have been liberated by voluntary act of their former owners or by law, as well as all free colored persons who were in the country at the commencement of the rebellion, and are now residents therein, or who may return within six months, and their descendants, shall have all the rights of the native Cherokee, "including Article 10, and Article 12, Third. Imploring the aid of the Creator and his guidance in its accomplishment-we do hereby ordain and establish this Constitution for the sovereign government of the Indigenous Cherokee Nation.  The term "Nation" as used in this Constitution is the same as "Tribe".  The boundaries establishing the seat of our Tribal Government to be set within the limits historically established by the Cherokee Freedmen Tribal Communities and Settlements of modern external Indian Freedmen Communities, Settlements and Reservation procured for our Nation's use.

Article I. Federal Regulations
 
 Section 1. The Indigenous Cherokee Nation is a sovereign nation at peace with  the Federal Union.  Following all terms of the treaty of 1866.
 Section 2. The name of this body shall be "the Indigenous Cherokee Nation."
  
 Article II. Bill of Rights
 
 Section 1. Nothing in this Constitution shall be interpreted in a way which would change the individual rights and privileges the tribal members have as citizens of the Indigenous Cherokee Nation.

Section 2. The judicial process of the Indigenous Cherokee Nation shall be open to every member of the Indigenous Cherokee Nation. Speedy and certain remedy shall be afforded under the terms of this Constitution for every wrong and injury to person, property or reputation.  The Council shall prescribe the procedures pertinent thereto. The appropriate protections guaranteed by the Indian Civil Rights Act of 1968 shall apply to all members of the Indigenous Cherokee Nation. Except where such laws are referred from another Nation.
 
 Section 3. Every citizen shall be at liberty to speak, write, or publish his opinions on any subject, being responsible for the abuse of that privilege, and no law shall ever be passed curtailing the liberty of speech, or of the press.
 
 Section 4. The citizens shall have the right, in a peaceable manner, to assemble together for their common good, and to apply to those invested with powers of government; for redress of grievances or other purposes, by address, or demonstration.
 
 Article III.

 Section 1. All members of the Indigenous Cherokee Nation must be citizens as proven by reference in the Treaty Cherokee of July 19, 1866, and as established by documentation of an unbroken chain of lineal descent from Cherokee Freedmen Citizens (or their lineal descendants) enumerated upon either, the Dawes Commission Final Indian Citizenship Freedmen Rolls, including Tribal Citizenship Rolls and Court Orders and other rolls used by said commission.
 
 Accepted Documentation shall consist of:
 Persons descended from Citizens identified as Cherokee Freedmen whose names appear on the list of Tribal Citizens, members identified by the Dawes Commission Final Indian Citizenship Cherokee Freedmen Rolls from 1898 to 1907. Such lists shall also include successive Tribal Citizenship Rolls, including Cherokee Tribal Rolls from 1812 through 1970, Court Orders and/or holders of Cherokee Nation Tribal Land Allotment Patents from 1830 to 1914 and Cherokee Freedmen Applicants Certified and placed upon the Cherokee Freedmen Register by the interim Agency Freedmen Descendants of the 5 Civilized Tribes, Incorporated from 2002 until such time as the Indigenous Cherokee Nation establishes a certified citizenship registration department. Such enrollment shall be maintained by the Office of the Registrar of the Sovereign Indigenous Cherokee Nation or it assigned agent
 
 Section 2. The Tribal Legislature shall have the power to enact ordinances governing future citizenship of the Indigenous Cherokee Nation.
 
 Section 3. There shall be established a Cherokee Freedmen Register, to be processed and kept initially by Freedmen Descendants of the 5 Civilized Tribes, Incorporated, a 501(c)3, IRS registered Native American Foundation, until the establishment of the Official Registrar of the Indigenous Cherokee Nation, for the inclusion of any Cherokee Freedmen for membership purposes in the Indigenous Cherokee Nation who presents the necessary evidence of eligibility for registration. (a) A Registration Committee shall be established. It shall be the duty of the Registration Committee to consider the qualifications and to determine the eligibility of those applying to have their names entered in the Cherokee Freedmen Register. The Registration Committee shall consist of a Registrar and two (2) assistants. All members shall be appointed by the Principal Chief, and confirmed by the Council. (b) There shall be a number assigned to every name which is approved and entered into the Cherokee Freedmen Register. This number shall be preceded by the three words, "Cherokee Freedmen Registry Number." (c) The decisions of the Registration Committee shall be subject to review by the Tribunal created by Article VII.
 
 Section 4. Registration as used in this article refers to the process of enrolling as a member of the Indigenous Cherokee Nation and is not the same as the registration for voting purposes.
 
 Section 5. Any person of Indian Freedmen Descent whose name appears pursuant to the Documentation expressed in Section 1 of this Article, may be enrolled in the Sovereign Indigenous Cherokee Nation upon written application if admitted to membership by a majority vote of the Tribal Council.
 
 Article IV. Distribution of Powers
 
 The powers of the government of the Indigenous Cherokee Nation shall be divided into three (3) separate departments: Legislative, Executive and Judicial, as set forth in the Treaty with the Cherokee of 1866; and except as provided in this Constitution, the Legislative, Executive and Judicial departments of government shall be separate and distinct and distinct and no person or collection of persons, being one of those departments, shall exercise any power properly belonging to either of the others.
 
 All elected officials shall be included in the executive branch of government
 
 Article V. Legislative
 
 Section 1. The legislature shall consist of one legislative body to be called the Tribal Council of the Indigenous Cherokee Nation. The initial election of members to the Council pursuant to this Constitution shall occur within 120 days from the date of its ratification on a day to be announced by the Principal Chief of the Indigenous Cherokee Nation.
 
 Section 2. The Tribal Council shall establish its rules for its credentials, decorum and procedure.
 
 Section 3a. The initial tribal council will be appointed by the Principle Chief of the Indigenous Cherokee Nation. The appointees will hold office until such time as the voting age citizenship reaches 500 citizens for the purpose of general elections.

3b. The Tribal Council shall consist of Thirteen (13) members, who are members by lineal Descent of the Indigenous Cherokee Nation. Each Tribal Council member shall be elected in the general election for a term of four (4) years and until his successor is duly elected and installed after the conditions of 3a have been met. .
 
Section 4. The Tribal Council shall establish representative districts/regions.

  
Section 5. The Tribal Council, at its first regular session each year, shall organize and elect officers from its membership. Officers to be elected are a Chairperson and a Secretary. A Recording Secretary and Sergeant-At-Arms (non-members of the Tribal Council) shall be nominated by the Chairperson, and placed in office by and with the advice and consent of the Tribal Council. The Chairperson shall preside over all meetings of the Tribal Council.
 
 Section 6. The Secretary of the Tribal Council shall maintain all records and enactments of the Tribal Council. They shall be kept on file in the Indigenous Cherokee Nation Headquarters and available for inspection by Cherokee Freedmen citizens during normal office hours. All such records and enactments of the Tribal Council shall be the property of the Indigenous Cherokee Nation.
 
 Section 7. The Tribal Council shall enact rules and regulations pertaining to the Indigenous Cherokee Nation.
 
 Section 8. The Tribal Council shall prescribe procedures and regulations for voter registration.
  
 Section 9The Tribal Council shall sit as a court in all cases of impeachment; its decision shall be final.
 
 Section 10. The Principal Chief of the Indigenous Cherokee Nation shall prepare an Annual Tribal Budget and present it to the Council for approval. Approval shall require a majority vote of the Council. Rejection, amendment or alteration shall be considered by legislative act subject to executive veto. Such veto shall be over-ridden only by an affirmative vote of at least nine (9) members of the Legislature.
 

Section 11. For all business of the Tribal Council, a quorum is required. A quorum consists of nine (9) members of the Council.
 
 Section 12. The Tribal Council shall have the power to fix and prescribe salaries and allowances for all elected or appointed officials and employees of the Nation. The salary and allowances for elected and appointed officials shall not be increased or diminished during terms of office for which they have been elected. The Tribal Council will set a pay scale for all tribal employees.
 
 Section 13. There shall be at least one regular session of the Council in the calendar year which shall convene on the second Monday in each January or at such other date as the Council shall determine. No business shall be conducted by the Tribal Council unless at least two-thirds (2/3) of members thereof regularly elected and qualified shall be in attendance, which number shall constitute a quorum. The session may not exceed a maximum of thirty (30) calendar days for pay purposes.
 
 Section 14. Special meetings of the Council may be called: (A) by the Principal Chief of the Indigenous Cherokee Nation, (B) by the Deputy Chief of the Indigenous Cherokee Nation when he has the full powers of the Principal Chief as elsewhere defined, (C) upon written request of fifty-one percent (51%) of the members of the Council, or (D) upon the written request of ten percent (10%) of the registered voters of the Indigenous Cherokee Nation. The purposes of said meeting shall be stated in a notice published not less than ten (10) days prior to the meeting, and the Council may not consider any other subject not within such purposes. No special meetings may convene until (30) days have elapsed after the adjournment of a prior session or meeting, unless called pursuant to (A) and (B) above.
 
 Section 15. All meetings of the Council and of its committees shall be open to the public except: (A) When the discussion shall concern employment, retention or discharge of personnel; (B) When the question of the moral turpitude of any member of the Tribe is discussed; or (C) When the decorum of the audience shall prejudice orderly administration of business. In the event that consideration of a subject shall take place in Executive Session, the vote shall take place in an open meeting.
 
 Section 16. The Council shall have the power to establish laws which it shall deem necessary and proper for the good of the Nation, which shall not be contrary to the provisions of this Constitution. The style of all bills or laws shall be: "Be It Enacted By The Indigenous Cherokee Nation.'' The style of all resolutions shall be "Be It Resolved By The Indigenous Cherokee Nation."
 
 Section 17. No laws passed by the Council shall have retroactive effect or operation.
 
 Section 18. The Council shall have the power of removal and said removal must be conducted in accordance with Article XI of this Constitution

 
 Section 19. Members of the Council and all Executive Officers shall be bound by oath, provided in Article XIII, to support the Constitution of the Indigenous Cherokee Nation do everything within the individual's power to promote the culture, heritage and traditions of the Indigenous Cherokee Nation and to perform the duties of their respective offices with fidelity.
 
 Section 20. Every enactment which shall have been approved by a majority of the members in attendance at the Council shall, before it becomes effective be presented to the Principal Chief of the Indigenous Cherokee Nation, if he approves, he shall sign it; if not, he shall return it with his objections to the Council, which shall enter the objections in the Journal and proceed to reconsider it. If, after such reconsideration, two-thirds (2/3) of the entire council shall agree to pass the enactment, it shall become fully effective and operational notwithstanding the objections of veto of the Principal Chief of the Indigenous Cherokee Nation. In all such cases, the vote of the Council shall be determined by "yeas" and "nays", and the names of the members voting shall be entered on the Council's Journal. If any enactment shall not be returned by the Principal Chief of the Indigenous Cherokee Nation within five (5) working days after it shall have been presented to him, the same shall be law in like manner as if he had signed it, unless the Council shall, by its adjournment, prevent its return, in which case, it shall become a law without the approval of the Principal Chief of the Indigenous Cherokee Nation. No enactment shall become a law after the final adjournment of the Council, unless approved by the Principal Chief of the Indigenous Cherokee Nation within fifteen (15) working days after such adjournment.  Robert's Rules of Order shall be followed in conducting Tribal Council business unless in conflict with this Constitution.
 
 Section 21. The Tribal Council shall adopt rules of procedure for operation of the Tribal Legislature within ninety (90) days after the initial installation of legislators.
 
 Article VI. Executive
  
 Section 1. The Supreme executive power of this Nation shall be vested in a Chief Magistrate, who shall be styled "The Principal Chief of the Indigenous Cherokee Nation." The Principal Chief of the Indigenous Cherokee Nation shall hold his/her office for the term of four (4) years; and shall be elected by the qualified voters on the same day and in the same manner, except as otherwise provided by this Constitution, as they shall respectively vote for members of the Council for that particular year, provided, the Principal Chief of the Indigenous Cherokee Nation appointed into office initially, shall, when this Constitution is ratified continue in office until his/her successor is duly elected in the election  in the year following the first year the Indigenous Cherokee Nation has 500 voting age citizens, that age being established as 18 years old at the time of the election and every four years as aforementioned thereafter.
  
 Section 2. The returns of the election for the Principal Chief of the Indigenous Cherokee Nation shall be sealed and directed by the lawfully appointed election officials to the Secretary, who shall, immediately after the organization of the Council, and before proceeding to other business, open and publish the same in the presence of a majority of the Council. The person having the highest number of votes, shall be the Principal Chief of the Indigenous Cherokee Nation; but if two (2) or more shall be equal and highest in votes, one of them shall be chosen by a vote of the Council. The manner of determining contested elections shall be as directed by Indigenous Cherokee Nation law.
 
 Section 3. The Principal Chief of the Indigenous Cherokee Nation shall be a citizen of the Indigenous Cherokee Nation in accordance with Article III; and shall have obtained the age of twenty-six (26) years of age at the time of his or her election and be a member by lineal descent of the Indigenous Cherokee Nation.
 
 Section 4. The qualified electors shall also elect a Deputy Chief who shall assist the Principal Chief and perform all duties as assigned to him by the Principal Chief. The Deputy Chief of the Indigenous Cherokee Nation, who shall possess the same qualifications as the Principal Chief of the Indigenous Cherokee Nation, for a term of four (4) years at the same time and in the same manner as herein provided for the election of the Principal Chief. The Deputy Chief of the Indigenous Cherokee Nation appointed into office initially, shall, when this Constitution is ratified continue in office until his/her successor is duly elected in the first tribal  election and installed, and every four years as aforementioned thereafter.
 
 Section 5. The Principal Chief and the Deputy Chief shall run as a team and shall be elected for a term of four (4) years and shall serve until their successors have been elected and installed. The initial election of the Principal Chief and Deputy Chief of the Indigenous Cherokee Nation shall take place in conjunction with the first Council election pursuant to this Constitution and in accordance with Section I of this Article.
 
 Section 6. In case of the absence of the Principal Chief of the Indigenous Cherokee Nation from office due to his/her death, resignation, removal or inability to discharge the powers and duties of the said office, the same shall devolve upon the Deputy Chief of the Indigenous Cherokee Nation for the remaining portion of the four (4) year term to which the Principal Chief of the Indigenous Cherokee Nation has been elected. In case of disability, such powers shall continue during the term of such disability, Vacancies in the office of the Deputy Chief of the Indigenous Cherokee Nation shall be filled by the Council.
 
 Section 7. The Council may, in the case of removal, death, resignation or disability of both the Principal Chief of the Indigenous Cherokee Nation and the Deputy Chief of the Indigenous Cherokee Nation, provide by law what officer shall then act as Principal Chief
 
 of the Indigenous Cherokee Nation until the disability be removed or a successor shall be elected.
 
 Section 8. The Principal Chief of the Indigenous Cherokee Nation and Deputy Chief of the Indigenous Cherokee Nation shall, at stated times, receive for their service a compensation not inconsistent with Article X.
 
 Section 9. Before the Principal Chief of the Indigenous Cherokee Nation assumes his office, he shall take the oath or affirmation as provided for in Article XIII.
 
 Section 10. The Principal Chief of the Indigenous Cherokee Nation may on extraordinary occasions convene the Council at the seat of government pursuant to Article V, Section 5, and such notice and other laws as may be prescribed by the Council. The purpose of said meetings must be stated and the Council may consider only such matters as are specified in the call of the extraordinary meetings. Before the extraordinary meetings may be legally sufficient to conduct business, a quorum of the Council must be present.
 
 Section 11. At every session of the Council, and immediately upon its organization, the Principal Chief of the Indigenous Cherokee Nation shall communicate by message, delivered to the Council upon the condition of the Indigenous Cherokee Nation; and shall recommend such matters to the Council as he shall judge expedient.
 
 Section 12. The Principal Chief of the Indigenous Cherokee Nation shall cause the laws of the Indigenous Cherokee Nation to be faithfully executed, and shall conduct in person and in such manner as shall be prescribed by law, all communications and business of the Indigenous Cherokee Nation. The Principal Chief of the Indigenous Cherokee Nation may cause to be formed and operated, trusts, the beneficiary of which shall be the Indigenous Cherokee Nation and these trusts shall be granted such powers as provided by law for public trusts. Authorization for these trusts, however, must be approved by a majority vote of the Council. 
 
 Section 13. The Deputy Chief of the Indigenous Cherokee Nation shall, by virtue of his/her office, aid and advise the Principal Chief of the Indigenous Cherokee Nation in the administration of the government and shall preside over the Council but shall vote only for the purpose of breaking a tie vote.
 
 Section 14. Nothing in this Constitution shall be construed as preventing the Principal Chief of the Indigenous Cherokee Nation from appointing such administrative assistants as he deems proper.
 
 Section 15. Any citizen of the Indigenous Cherokee Nation who is at least twenty-six (26) years of age and a lineal descendant of Cherokee Freedmen Citizens enumerated upon Tribal Citizenship Rolls, the Dawes Commission Final Indian Citizenship Rolls or Court Order may be eligible to become a candidate for the office of Principal Chief or Deputy Chief.
 
 Section 16. The Principal Chief and the Deputy Chief must be registered to vote and must have been a member of the Indigenous Cherokee Nation for at least one (1) year immediately preceding any election for which they are candidates and must remain a member of the Indigenous Cherokee Nation during the tenure of their office.
 
 Article VII Judicial
 
 There is hereby created a Judicial Appeals Tribunal composed of three (3) members all of whom must be admitted to practice law before the highest Court, and -all of whom shall be members of the Indigenous Cherokee Nation, appointed by the Principal Chief of the Indigenous Cherokee Nation and approved by the Council for such terms until the appointed judge resigns, retires, or deemed unfit to dispatch the duties of their office by joint 2/3 vote of the legislative and executive branches of the Indigenous Cherokee Nation.. The purpose of this Tribunal shall be to hear and resolve any disagreements arising under any provisions of this Constitution or any enactment of the Council. The Council shall provide for a procedure which shall insure that any litigant receives due process of law together with prompt and speedy relief. The decision of the Judicial Appeals Tribunal shall be final insofar as the judicial process of the Indigenous Cherokee Nation is concerned.
 
 Article VIII. Cabinet
 Section 1. There shall be a cabinet composed of the following persons who shall be members of the Indigenous Cherokee Nation: Secretary, Treasurer Secretary of Health, Education and Welfare Secretary of Commerce and Industrial Development General Counsel Secretary of Communications.
 
 Section 2. These persons shall be appointed by the Principal Chief of the Indigenous Cherokee Nation and approved by the Council. The Council, on recommendation of the Principal Chief only, may create additional cabinet positions and departments. The Principal Chief shall prescribe the duties and responsibilities of cabinet members. Cabinet members shall be authorized to appoint such staff and other assistants as they deem necessary. The Council may, with recommendation of the Principal Chief of the Indigenous Cherokee Nation, abolish any established cabinet position or function or revise the title or responsibilities of any foregoing department or function.
 
 Article IX. Election
 
 All political power is inherent in the people, and all free governments are founded on their authority, and instituted for their benefit; and they have at all times the inalienable right to alter, reform or abolish their form of government in such a manner as they may think expedient; provided, such action is taken pursuant to this Constitution.
 
 Section 1. The Council shall enact an appropriate law not inconsistent with the provisions of this Constitution that will govern the conduct of all elections, provided that the initial election of the Council and Deputy Chief of the Indigenous Cherokee Nation shall be conducted pursuant to rules and regulations promulgated by the Principal Chief of the Indigenous Cherokee Nation and the provision set forth in Articles V and VI of this
 
 Constitution, notwithstanding, the Principal Chief of the Indigenous Cherokee Nation or Council may adopt rules requiring a majority vote for any elective office.
 
 Section 2. Any member by lineal descent of the Indigenous Cherokee Nation at least twenty-five years of age on the date of the election may be a candidate for the Council, No person who shall have been convicted of or has pled guilty or has pled no defense to a felony charge under the laws of the Indigenous Cherokee Nation, or of any State, Territory, or Possession thereof, shall be eligible to hold any office or appointment of honor, profit or trust within this Nation unless such person has received a pardon. Any person who holds any office of honor, profit or trust in any other tribe of Indians, either elective or appointive, shall be ineligible to hold simultaneously any office of honor, profit or trust of the Indigenous Cherokee Nation.
 
 Section 3. All elections shall be determined by secret balloting.
 
 Section 4. No person who votes as a citizen of another tribe shall be eligible to vote.
 
 Article X. Fiscal
 Section 1. The fiscal year shall commence on the first day of July in each year, unless otherwise provided by law.
 
 Section 2. The Council shall provide by law for an annual expenditure of funds, and the source from which funds are to be derived, to defray the estimated expenses of the Executive Council, Cabinet and Departments of Government of the Indigenous Cherokee Nation for each fiscal year. The budget shall not exceed estimated revenues.
 
 Section 3. At least thirty (30) days prior to the convening of each regular session of the Council, the Treasurer shall make and present to the Council an itemized estimate of the revenue to be received by the Indigenous Cherokee Nation, together with a statement of the sources from which revenues are to be received, under the laws, grants judgments, interests, and any other sources in effect at the time such estimate is made for the next ensuing fiscal year. The Treasurer shall prepare annual financial statements reflecting the results of operations of all tribal Activities and shall prepare a consolidated balance sheet in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles within sixty (60) days after the end of the fiscal year.
 
 Section 4. The Council shall require that records be maintained of all funds, monies, accounts and indebtedness and all other accounts bearing upon the fiscal interests of the Indigenous Cherokee Nation by the use of a uniform system of accounting which records and financial statements shall be audited by a Certified Public Accountant or as otherwise may be prescribed by the Council prior to the submission of said accounts to the Council.
 
 Section 5. The Treasurer shall be authorized to accept all grants, donations of money, interest of funds of the Indigenous Cherokee Nation, judgments and any and all other sources of monies available to the Indigenous Cherokee Nation, for uses and purposes and upon the conditions and limitations for which the same are granted or donated; and the faith of the Indigenous Cherokee Nation is hereby pledged to preserve such grants and donations as a sacred trust, and to keep the same for the use and purposes for which they were granted or donated.
 
 Section 6. The Council shall have the authority to invest funds or money of the Indigenous Cherokee Nation and the preference to be given to the security for such investments, the manner of selecting the securities, prescribing the rules, regulations, restrictions and conditions upon which the funds shall be loaned or invested, provided that no investment shall be in mortgages other than first mortgages only, and do all things necessary for the safety of the funds and permanence of the investments.

 Section 7. The credit of the Indigenous Cherokee Nation shall not be given, pledged, or loaned to any individual, firm, company, corporation, or association without the approval of the Council. The Indigenous Cherokee Nation shall not make any donations by gift, or otherwise, to any individual, firm, company, corporation, or association with out the approval of the Council.
 
 Section 8. All laws authorizing the expenditures of money by and on behalf of the Indigenous Cherokee Nation shall specify the purpose for which the money is to be used, and the money so designated shall be used for no other purpose. Annual expenditures shall not exceed the available funds.
 
 Section 9. General laws shall be enacted by the Council providing for the deposit of funds of the Indigenous Cherokee Nation, and the depository thereof, and such funds shall be under the control of the Treasurer, under such terms and conditions as shall be designated by said Council and under such laws which shall provide for the protection of said funds.
 
 Section 10. No official, member or officer of the Council, Cabinet Member, employee of any official, Council, Cabinet, or subdivisions thereof, or any person employed in any capacity by the Indigenous Cherokee Nation shall receive from any individual, partnership, corporation, or entity doing business with the Indigenous Cherokee Nation directly or indirectly, any interest, profit, benefits or gratuity, other than wages, salary, per diem, or expenses, specifically provided by law.
 
 Section 11. All officers, elected or appointed, who are authorized by this Constitution or any subsequent legislation to a position of trust over any land, property, accounts or monies, shall execute an official surety bond in the amount as may be required by the Council, and such surety bonds shall insure to the benefit of and be paid for by the Indigenous Cherokee Nation for whose protection or surety the same shall be required and in no event shall said surety bond be other than by a Licensed Insurance Company.

 
 Article XI. Removal From Office
 
 Section 1. The Principal Chief of the Indigenous Cherokee Nation and the Deputy Chief of the Indigenous Cherokee Nation shall be subject to removal from office for willful neglect of duty, corruption in office, habitual drunkenness during the performance of official business, illicit drug use of man made or processed substances [verified by testing for cause], in competency or any conviction involving moral turpitude committed while in office.
 
 Section 2. All other elective officers shall be subject to removal from office in such manner and for such causes as may be provided by laws passed by the Council.
 
 Section 3. The Council shall pass such laws as are necessary for carrying into effect the provisions of this Article, insuring therein that due process is afforded the accused.
 
 Article XII. Employee Rights
 
 Section 1. No employee, who having served in a position at least one (1) year, shall be removed from the employment of the Indigenous Cherokee Nation except for cause. The employee shall be afforded a hearing by the Judicial Appeals Tribunal under such rules and procedures as may be prescribed by the Council. 
 

Article XIII. Oath
 
 Section 1. All officers elected or appointed 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 faithfully execute the duties of _____________ of the Indigenous Cherokee Nation, and will, to the best of my ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the Indigenous Cherokee Nation.  I swear or affirm further, that I will do everything within my power to promote the culture, heritage and traditions of the Indigenous Cherokee Nation."
 
 Section 2. The foregoing oath shall be administered by any person authorized by the Council to administer oaths. The oath shall be filed in the Office of the Secretary.
 
 Article XIV. Clans
 
 Nothing in this Constitution shall be construed to prohibit the right of any Cherokee Freedmen to belong to a recognized tribal clan or organization in the Indigenous Cherokee Nation.
 
 Article XV. Initiative, Referendum and Amendment
 
 Section 1. Notwithstanding the provisions of Article V, the people of the Indigenous Cherokee Nation reserve to themselves the power to propose laws and amendments to this Constitution and to enact or reject the same at the polls independent of the Council, and also reserve power at their own option to approve or reject at the polls any act of the Council.
 
 Section 2. Any amendment or amendments to this Constitution may be proposed by the Council, and if the same shall be agreed to by a majority of all the members of the Council, such proposed amendment or amendments shall, with the "yeas", and "nays" thereon, be entered into the Journal and referred by the Secretary to the people for their approval or rejection, at the next regular general election, except when the Council, by a two-thirds (2/3) vote, shall order a special election for that purpose. If a majority of all the registered voters voting at such election shall vote in favor of any amendment thereto, it shall thereby become a part of this Constitution.
 
 Section 3. The first power reserved by the people of the Indigenous Cherokee Nation is the initiative and ten percent of the registered voters shall have the night to propose any legislative measure by petition and fifteen percent of the registered voters shall have the right to propose amendments to the constitution by petition, and every such petition shall include the full text of the measure so proposed. The second power is the referendum, and it may be ordered (except as to laws necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health or safety), either by petition signed by five percent of the registered voters or by the Council as other enactments are effectuated. The ratio and percent of registered voters hereinbefore stated shall be based upon the total number of votes cast at the last general election for the officer receiving the highest number of votes at such election.
 
 Section 4. Referendum petitions shall be filed with the Secretary not more than ninety days after the final adjournment of the session or meeting of the Council which passed the bill on which the referendum is demanded. The veto power of the Principal Chief of the Indigenous Cherokee Nation shall not extend to measures voted on by the people. All elections on measures referred to the people of the Indigenous Cherokee Nation shall be had at the next regular general election except when the Council or the Principal Chief of the Indigenous Cherokee Nation shall order a special election for the express purpose of making such reference. Any measure referred to the people by the initiative shall take effect and be in force when it shall have been approved by a majority of the votes cast in such election. Any measure referred to the people by the referendum shall take effect and be in force when it shall have been approved by a majority of the votes cast thereon.
 
 Section 5. Petitions and orders for the initiative and for the referendum shall be filed with the Secretary and addressed to the Principal Chief of the Indigenous Cherokee Nation, who shall submit the same to the people. The Council shall make suitable provisions for carrying into effect the provisions of this Article.
 
 Section 6. The referendum may be demanded by the people against one or more items, sections or parts of any enactment of the Council in the same manner in which such power may be exercised against a complete enactment. The filing of a referendum petition against one or more items, sections or parts of an enactment shall not delay the remainder of such act from becoming operative.
 
 Section 7. If two or more amendments are proposed they shall be submitted in such manner that electors may vote for or against them separately.
 
 Section 8. No proposal for the amendment of this Constitution which is submitted to the voters shall embrace more than one general subject and the voters shall vote separately for or against each proposal submitted; provided, however, that in the submission of proposals for the amendment of this Constitution by articles, which embrace a general subject, each proposed article shall be deemed a single proposal or proposition.
 
 Section 9. No convention shall be called by the Council to propose a new Constitution, unless the law providing for such convention shall first be approved by the people on a referendum vote at a regular or special election. Any amendments, alterations, revisions or new Constitution, proposed by such convention, shall be submitted to the electors of the Indigenous Cherokee Nation at a general or special election and be approved by a majority of the electors voting thereon, before the same shall become effective. The question of such proposed convention shall be submitted to the members of the Indigenous Cherokee Nation at least once in every twenty (20) years.
 
 Article XVI-Supersedes All Prior Cherokee Freedmen Constitutions
 
 Section 1. The provisions of this Constitution overrule and supersede the provisions of all prior Indigenous Cherokee Nation Constitutions enacted since the Treaty with the Cherokee  of July 19, 1866.
 
 Section 2. Nothing in the provisions of the articles of this Constitution shall limit, invalidate, extinguish or abridge the Treaty, Civil or Constitutional Rights of the Lineal Descendants or Citizens of the Indigenous Cherokee Nation. The articles of this Constitution shall enhance all rights inscribed in the Treaty with the Cherokee of July 19, 1866.
 
 Article XVII-Inalienable Rights
 
 Descendants of Cherokee Freedmen, opting to select citizenship enrollment within the Sovereign Indigenous Cherokee Nation, abiding by the provisions inscribed in this Constitution document and the Sovereign Indigenous Cherokee Nation Bylaws; shall in no way be caused to suffer harm, alienation, restriction or barred by its terms from seeking enrollment in the host Cherokee Nation (Except where such person may be required to choose only one Nation in which to enroll, vote and pledge Citizenship Duties thereto).
 
 Enrollment in the Indigenous Cherokee Nation shall not impede, hinder nor cause interruption, rejection or illegal abrogation of the guaranteed Citizenship and/or Treaty Rights of Indigenous Cherokee Nation Citizens choosing to retain/maintain their Citizenship, Treaty Rights and/or Voting Rights Status with the host Cherokee Nation as stipulated in the Treaty of April 28,1866 guaranteeing such described rights for African Ancestored Citizens, Freedmen, Communities and Tribes of the Cherokee Nation.
 
 Nor shall membership in the Sovereign Indigenous Cherokee Nation constitute an abandonment of legal title in reference to litigation, cases or claims (past, pending or future) involving communal, tribal and/or individual assets alleged by our host Nation covering the period c. 700 to A.D. 2004 the period during which our ancestors and relatives were/are considered part of the indigenous Tribal Unit known as Mobilians, Muskogean Linguistic Stock, the Cherokee Nation proper, African Ancestored, Cherokee Citizens, Cherokee Freedmen. Tribal Communities, Townships, Districts, Allotted Lands, Mineral Rights, Leaseholds, Stock and all Trust Funds derived from the aforementioned era are Congressionally mandated as belonging to the heirs of the original Cherokee Nation of which we remain a part.
 
 Article XVIII. Adoption
 
 This Constitution shall become effective immediately when embossed on parchment, approved, signed and therefore executed and witnessed by the Authorized Interim Executive Representative(s) of the Sovereign Indigenous Cherokee Nation. This Constitution is enacted in furtherance of provisions of the Treaty with the Cherokee July 19, 1866, referencing equal Citizenship and Treaty Rights of those Citizens and descendants of Citizens listed in Articles 2, 3 and 30 of said Treaty; and in full acknowledgement of the Indian Reorganization Act Provisions of June 26, 1936, listed in Article XVII of this Constitution, including Section 9 of Title 25  and Section 1a of Title 25.
  
February  12, 2005
 
 Sovereign Indigenous Cherokee Nation Administrative Representatives
 
 Now Therefore, I ________________________________________, affix my signature as Principal Chief of the Indigenous Cherokee Nation, and pledge by the oath of this Honorable Office, to uphold the Laws of the Indigenous Cherokee Nation Constitution.
 
 _______________________Robert N Miller, Sr.__________________
                                                   Robert N. Miller, Sr
                                                     Principal Chief 
                                                 This__12_____Day of ___Feb_______2005.
 
 ________                          Preston Washington_________________________________
                                               Preston Washington
                                                 Deputy Chief
 This___12____Day of _____Feb_____2005.
 
 
This Constitution shall be filed in the office of the Indigenous Cherokee Nation, used in conjunction with the Bylaws and together sacredly preserved as fundamental law of the Sovereign Indigenous Cherokee Nation.
 
 Now therefore I, Eleanor L Wyatt, Chairman-Freedmen Descendants of the 5 Civilized Tribes, Incorporated, affix my signature  and seal as Witness of the Acceptance and Ratification of the Constitution of the Sovereign Indigenous Cherokee Nation.

_______Eleanor L. Wyatt___
  Eleanor L. Wyatt

This   12_Day of _Feb  2005.

Amended May 27, 2005