Version 0.1 · October 16, 2026 · First verified learning edition
By Steven Bullcoming Haworth | Truth in Focus Records Room
What this is: A simple guide to the Northern Cheyenne Constitution and Bylaws. It is written to help readers learn, not to replace tribal law. The original document controls if this guide is incomplete or wrong. This first version explains the main ideas; it does not cover every sentence or later legal decision.
Read the full amended Constitution and Bylaws (1996 PDF). This document says it includes the 1935 Constitution and amendments adopted in 1960 and 1996. Before using any rule in a real case, check for later valid changes and legal decisions.
What is a constitution?
A constitution is a nation’s main book of government rules. It says how leaders are chosen, what they may do, and what limits they must follow.
The Constitution, article by article
Preamble: Why the rules exist
The introduction says the people want a united tribal government and a better future for their families. In simple words: The government is meant to serve the people, including future generations.
Article I: Territory
This explains the land area covered by the Constitution. It points to reservation boundaries established in 1884 and extended in 1900. In simple words: This article helps show where the Tribe’s government has authority. Other laws can affect the limits of that authority.
Article II: Membership
This tells who may be a tribal member. It includes rules about an older membership roll, Northern Cheyenne ancestry, family ties and certain births. It also gives the Council a role in adopting membership rules. In simple words: There are specific rules for becoming or remaining a tribal member. Do not decide anyone’s membership from a short summary.
Article III: Governing body and officers
The Constitution sets up an 11-seat Tribal Council: the Vice President holds one at-large Council seat under the conditions in the text, and ten seats are allocated among five reservation districts. It also describes the President, Secretary, Treasurer and Sergeant at Arms. In simple words: The Constitution explains the offices and how the Council is put together.
Article IV: Powers of the Tribal Council
This article lists powers such as dealing with other governments, managing tribal funds, protecting tribal land and natural resources, and adopting certain rules. It also sets limits on those powers. Section 1(f) says spending tribal funds controlled by the Council requires a resolution approved in a legal session, and the amounts spent must be a public record. In simple words: The Council has important jobs, but it does not have unlimited power.
Article V: Bill of Rights
This article provides equal opportunity for tribal members to take part in the Tribe’s economic resources and activities. It also protects members’ freedoms of worship, conscience, speech, the press, assembly and association, as stated in the text. In simple words: Tribal members have rights that leaders must respect. Other rights and protections may come from other laws.
Article VI: Elections
Members age 18 or older generally have the right to vote in reservation elections, subject to the text’s federal-law exception. The article explains how candidates qualify and how primary and general elections work. A primary does not happen for every office in every election: for President or Vice President, the article calls for a primary if more than two qualified people file. Other rules apply to district Council seats. In simple words: Elections must follow the written rules, not just someone’s preferred plan.
Article VII: Removal from office and vacancies
This article has more than one process. Section 1 discusses forfeiture of office after certain convictions. Section 2 says an officer or Council member may be removed for failure to perform assigned duties or gross neglect by a two-thirds vote of the Tribal Council, after a fair chance to respond. Section 3 requires complaints against specified officials to be written and sworn. Section 4 explains filling a vacant office. In simple words: Removing someone from office takes the right grounds and the right steps. A simple majority is not the Section 2 rule.
Article VIII: Referendum
A referendum lets voters decide certain Council actions. The petition rule is at least 10% of registered voters from each district. For the vote to bind the Council under this article, at least 30% of eligible voters must vote, and a majority of those voting must support the result. In simple words: People have a way to call a vote, but both the petition and turnout rules matter.
Article IX: Land
This covers allotted land, tribal land, leases, land assignments, and use of unassigned tribal land. In simple words: Different kinds of land have different rules. This is the land article, not the amendment article.
Article X: Amendments
An amendment changes the Constitution. This article provides for an election called by the Secretary of the Interior after a request by two-thirds of the Council or a petition by one-third of qualified tribal voters. It also sets voting, turnout and federal-approval conditions. In simple words: Changing the Constitution takes more than an ordinary Council vote.
Article XI: Separation of powers
The Constitution divides government into three branches: legislative (Council), executive (President and government administration), and judicial (courts). One branch generally cannot take over another branch’s powers unless the law expressly allows it. In simple words: Different parts of government have different jobs.
The Bylaws: Seven more sets of rules
The Bylaws are part of the same constitutional document. They add details about how the government works.
- Bylaws Article I — Duties of officers: Explains work assigned to the President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer and Sergeant at Arms. The Secretary keeps meeting records.
- Bylaws Article II — Qualifications: Sets age and membership requirements for certain offices.
- Bylaws Article III — Certification: Says the Council appoints an election board to certify elections within five days, and sets out an oath of office.
- Bylaws Article IV — Salaries: Covers pay for tribal officials and limits changes.
- Bylaws Article V — Meetings and procedure: States regular meeting days and that two-thirds of Council members must be present for a quorum to do business. A quorum is the minimum number who must attend.
- Bylaws Article VI — Adoption: Describes how the Constitution and Bylaws were originally adopted.
- Bylaws Article VII — Code of ethics: Directs officials to act for the Tribe’s benefit. It includes rules against personal use of tribal money or property and knowing falsification of official records.
Important: Similar numbers do not mean the same rule
Two-thirds present for a Council quorum is a meeting rule. A two-thirds vote to remove an official under Article VII is a different rule. A 10% petition from each district for a referendum is different again from the one-third petition for an amendment. Readers should always check the article number.
What still needs review?
Version 0.1 gives a first map of all the articles and bylaws, but it is not a full clause-by-clause explanation. We still need detailed pages on election ordinances, the exact steps for Council meetings, election boards, vacancies, official ethics, and how court decisions interpret disputed rules. We also need to verify any later amendments. We will label those additions by version and date.
Original source: Amended Constitution and Bylaws of the Northern Cheyenne Tribe (approved May 31, 1996). Read the original for the precise words.
Educational information, not legal advice. This guide does not decide who is entitled to hold office or resolve any current leadership dispute.