Draft Blackfoot Constitution Part VIII

["Craven, Jim" <jcraven@xxxxxxxxx>]

CHAPTER IV

GOVERNMENT
Article 45
The Government of the Blackfoot Nation recognizes, operates and rests on the
principle that government is only legitimate when it governs with the
recognition and consent of the majority of the governed.

Article 46
The Government of the Blackfoot Nation shall consist of a Principal Chief
acting as Head of State, Council of Advisors, Cabinet Officers, Ambassadors,
an Assembly of Representatives, Judiciary and Government employees at
various levels.

Article 47
The Principal Chief and Head of State shall be a qualified and legitimate
Hereditary Chief of one of the four principal Bands of the Blackfoot Nation
(Kainaiwa, Amskaapipiikani, Apatohsipipiikani or Siksika) and descendant
from the traditional and recognized lines of descendants governing selection
of Blackfoot Chiefs as acknowledged and affirmed by a majority of the
Council of Advisors. In the event that no legitimate Hereditary Chief
exists, one shall be nominated and appointed from and by the Council of
Advisors.

Article 48
No person except a natural born Blackfoot citizen and from the lineage of
the current Principal Chief at the time of adoption of this Constitution,
shall be eligible for the Office of Principal Chief and Head of State and
neither shall any person be eligible to that Office who has not attained the
age of twenty-one years old. In the event that no eligible person from the
lineage of the Principal Chief exists, a Principal Chief will be selected
from and by The Council of Advisors.

Article 49
The Principal Chief shall remain Head of State for the span of his or her
life unless sickness or death causes incapacitation or unless he or she
resigns or suffers impeachment for due cause and in accordance with
Blackfoot traditions and this Constitution. The successor of the Principal
Chief shall be appointed from the lineage and ancestry of the Chief unless
lineage is extinguished or unless successors are found to be mentally or
physically incompetent to perform the duties of the Office. In the event of
extinction of the lineage of the Principal Chief, another legitimate and
qualified Hereditary Chief from the principal Bands of the Blackfoot Nation
shall be appointed from and by the Council of Advisors with continuing
succession through his/her lineage.

Article 50
The Principal Chief and Head of State: shall be the Commander in Chief of
military forces of the Blackfoot Nation; shall have the power to grant
reprieves and pardons for offenses against the Blackfoot Nation; shall have
the power to appoint Ambassadors, Cabinet Officers, Judges, Judges of the
Supreme Court, and all other officers whose appointments are not herein
otherwise made by other officers and levels of the Government of the
Blackfoot Nation.

Article 51
The Council of Advisors shall consist of all legitimate and traditionally
recognized Pipe Carriers, Bundle Holders and Spiritual Leaders of the
principal Bands of the Blackfoot Nation (that request or agree to sit on the
Council of Advisors) and/or those appointed by The Principal Chief. Advisors
will sit unless removed by the Principal Chief (with the concurrence of
two-thirds of the Advisors) or unless there is resignation, incapacitation
due to ill health or death of an Advisor.


James Craven
(Blackfoot Name: "Omahkohkiaayo-i'poyi-inaa")
Professor/Consultant Economics; Division (Business) Chairman;
Clark College, 1800 E. McLoughlin Blvd.
Vancouver, WA. 98663
(360) 992-2283; Fax: (360) 992-2863
blkfoot5@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
http://www.home.earthlink.net/~blkfoot5
*My Employer Has No Association With My Private/Protected
Opinion*



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