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CONSTITUTION OF THE COMANCHE INDIAN TRIBE OF OKLAHOMA
(As ratified November 19, 1966, amended May 29, 1976, June 10, 1978, April 14, 1979, April 25, 1981, September 29, 1984, June 29, 1985, and April 28, 1994)
PREAMBLE
Invoking the guidance of Almighty God, we, the members of the Comanche Indian Tribe with faith in the purposes of our Supreme Being, with abounding pride in our ancient racial heritage and with the determination to promote, through united efforts, the general well-being of our tribe and to secure to ourselves and our descendants the rights, powers and privileges provided by law, do solemnly ordain and establish this organization and adopt the following constitution.
ARTICLE I - NAME
The name of this Organization shall be the "Comanche Indian
Tribe."
ARTICLE II - PURPOSE
The purpose of this organization shall be:
Section 1., To define, establish and safeguard the rights, powers and privileges
of the tribe and its members.
Section 2., To improve the economic, moral, educational and health status of its
members and to cooperate with and seek the assistance of the United States in
carrying out mutual programs to accomplish these purposes by all possible means.
Section 3., To promotes in other ways the common well being of the tribe and its
membership.
ARTICLE III - MEMBERSHIP (Pursuant to Amendment V, adopt May 29, 1976)
Section 1. To define, establish and safeguard the rights, powers
and privileges of the tribe and its members.
Section 2. To improve the economic, moral, educational and health status of its
members and to cooperate with and seek the assistance of the United States in
carrying out mutual programs to accomplish these purposes by all possible means.
Section 3. To promote in other ways the common well being of the tribe and its
membership.
ARTICLE III - MEMBERSHIP (Pursuant to Amendment V, adopted May 29, 1976)
Section 1. The membership of the Comanche Indian Tribe shall
consist of the following:
a) All persons, who received an allotment of land as members of the Comanche
Indian Tribe under the Act of June 6, 1900 (31 Stat. 672), and subsequent Acts,
shall be included as full blood members of the tribe.
b) All living direct descendents of allotees eligible for membership under the
provisions of Section 1. (a) Of this Article born on or before the date of
adoption of this constitution.
c) All children of at least one-fourth (1/4) degree Comanche Indian blood, as
defined by and derived from Section 1. (A), born after the date of the adoption
of the constitution to a member of the Comanche Indian Tribe; provided, that
application for new membership has been submitted to the business committee
supported as required by Section 2 of this Article.
Section 2. Application for new membership in the Comanche Indian Tribe under
Section 1. (c) Must be supported by authenticated copies of birth certificate or
other records recognized by state or federal recorders. All evidence so
submitted shall be retained by the tribe to support the record.
Section 3. Any person eligible for membership in the Comanche Indian Tribe under
the provisions of Section 1. Of this Article shall be considered a member of the
Comanche Indian Tribe unless:
a) The person is an adult and submits in writing to the Tribal Chairman a
statement of withdrawal from the Comanche Indian Tribe and relinquishment of all
rights of tribal membership, signed by him or her and attested by two (2)
witnesses, which statement shall automatically effect a permanent withdrawal
from membership in the Comanche Indian Tribe and a relinquishment of all rights
and benefits thereunder; or
b) The person is at the time of the adoption of this constitution an enrolled
member of another tribe or has in the past received and accepted or, if a minor,
whose parents or legal guardian has received and accepted for said minor,
material or monetary benefits as a member of another Indian Tribe and who fails
or whose parents or legal guardian fails, if a minor, within ninety (90) days
after the adoption of this constitution to declare in writing to the Tribal
Chairman preference for membership in the Comanche Indian Tribe and at the same
time in writing renounces membership in said other tribe; or
c) The person after the adoption of this constitution by his or her affirmative
action or, a minor, by the affirmative action of his or her parents or legal
guardian becomes a recognized or enrolled member of another Indian tribe with
the full rights, privileges and powers of membership under the rules of said
other tribe, which said affirmative action and subsequent recognition or
enrollment shall automatically effect a permanent withdrawal from membership in
the Comanche Indian Tribe and relinquishment of all rights and benefits
thereunder; or
d) The person after the adoption of this constitution receives and accepts or,
if a minor, his or her parents or legal guardian accepts for said minor,
material or monetary benefits as a result of membership in another Indian tribe,
which such receipt and
Section 4. Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 3. Of this Article, any
person who meets the eligibility criteria in Section 1. Of this Article who as a
minor accepted a material or monetary benefit as a member of another Indian
Tribe or whose legal guardians accepted a material as a member of another Indian
Tribe while the person was a minor, shall have the option of relinquishing their
membership in the other tribe and becoming a member of the Comanche Indian Tribe
not later than one year after they become an adult as defined by this
Constitution, provided further that any person eligible for membership in the
Comanche Tribe under this section who has reached adulthood prior to the
approval date of this section must take appropriate action to enroll as a member
of the Comanche Indian Tribe not later than 30 days subsequent to the adoption
date of this section.
ARTICLE IV - ORGANIZATION AND OFFICERS
Section 1. The supreme governing body of this organization shall
be the Comanche Tribal Council.
Section 2. In addition to the tribal council, there shall be elected a Comanche
Business Committee.
Section 3. The elected officers of the tribal council shall be a Tribal
Chairman, a Tribal Vice-Chairman, and a Tribal Secretary-Treasurer. In addition
these officers shall serve in the same capacity on the Comanche Business
Committee.
ARTICLE V - TRIBAL COUNCIL (Pursuant to Amendment I, adopted May 29, 1976, Amendment XI and Amendment XII, adopted April 14, 1979, Amendments XVIII and XIX, adopted September 29, 1984, and Amendments XXXI, XXXII, XXXIII, XXXIV, XXXV, XXXVI, adopted April 28, 1994)
Section 1. The Tribal Council shall consist of all members of
all members of the Comanche Indian Tribe who are eighteen (18) years of age or
older.
Section 2. There shall be an annual meeting of the tribal council on the third
Saturday in April of each year at 1:30 p.m. to the Comanche Tribal Complex,
Lawton, Oklahoma, or such other place as the business committee shall determine.
Section 3. In addition to the Annual Tribal Council meeting, the Tribal Chairman
shall be required to call a special tribal council meeting in the following
cases:
a) Upon written request by the Commissioner of Indian Affairs or his authorized
representative; or
b) When he is so requested in writing by as many as three members of the
business committee, setting forth the purpose of the meeting; or
c) When he is so requested by a petition signed by two hundred (200) eligible
voters of the Comanche Tribe, setting forth the purpose of the meeting
consistent with the constitution; or
d) Should the Tribal Chairman refuse to call and hold a meeting of the tribal
council or neglect to do so for thirty (30) days after he is duly requested, the
Commissioner of Indian Affairs or his authorized representative shall be
authorized to call such special meeting and shall do so by notifying the
officers and members of the business committee of the date thereof.
Section 4. Notice of all meetings of the tribal council, including the annual
meeting, shall be given by the secretary-treasurer as follows:
a) By mailing a postal card or letter to each member of the business committee
at least ten (10) days prior to the meeting date, stating the date, time, place
and purpose of the meeting; and
b) By posting at a public place and inserting at least two (2) weeks prior to
the meeting date a notice in two (2) local newspapers containing the same
information as set forth above. Radio, television, or other media of notice may
also be utilized depending on availability and at the discretion of the business
committee.
Section 5. Voters of the tribe shall be members of the tribal council who
otherwise qualify. All votes taken during tribal council meetings shall, at the
discretion of the Chairman, be standing vote or ballot.
Section 6. No action shall be taken by the Tribal Council unless a quorum is
present. A quorum shall consist of one hundred and fifty (150) eligible voters.
Section 7. Subject to the approval of the Secretary of the Interior or his
authorized representative where applicable, the authority of the Comanche Tribal
Council shall include and be exclusive with respect to the following:
a) To change, modify, alter or revoke membership rules.
b) To execute leases, contracts or permits for five (5) or more years with
regard to property which is owned exclusively by the Comanche Indian Tribe, but
this does not include any individually owned land or personal property.
c) To elect tribal officers and members of the business committee and to fill
vacancies which may occur pursuant to Article VII.
d) To authorize the expenditure of funds which may be deposited to the exclusive
credit to the Comanche Indian Tribe and of funds, which may be deposited to the
joint credit of the Kiowa, Comanche, and Apache Tribes.
e) To select and authorize tribal delegation to transact business on behalf of
the tribe. When travel is involved, the terms of the resolution shall include
the purpose of the trip and the existence of the delegation's authority.
f) The salary for the Chairman of the Business Committee shall be established by
the Tribal Council by the adoption of an annual tribal operating budget. Salary
for all other members of the business committee shall be two hundred and fifty
dollars ($250) per month.
Section 8. All minutes of the tribal council meetings shall be published in a
manner to be determined by the tribal council.
Section 9. To hire an Administrator/Manager to administrate the tribal
government. The Administrator/Manager shall be under the direction of the
business committee. Members of the business committee shall not be an employee
of the tribal government. Section 10. To hire an attorney to represent the tribe
in legal matters.
ARTICLE VI - BUSINESS COMMITTEE (Pursuant to Amendment X, adopted June 10, 1978, Amendment XIII and Amendment XIV, adopted April 14, 1979, Amendment XX and Amendment XXI, adopted September 29, 1984, and Amendment XXIII, adopted June 29, 1985)
Section 1. The Comanche Business Committee shall be composed of
seven (7) members of the Comanche Indian Tribe who are at least twenty-one (21)
years of age, and be elected as provided in Article VII of this constitution.
Section 2. The business committee shall meet on the first Saturday of each month
of each year at 10:00 a.m. In case of a legal holiday, the meeting will be held
on the following Saturday. Special meetings may be called by the Tribal Chairman
at his discretion; provided that such special meetings do not exceed a total of
twelve (12) meetings per calendar year.
Section 3. Notice of all special meetings of the business committee shall be
given by the Tribal Secretary-Treasurer by mailing a letter or postal card to
each member of the business committee at least ten days (10) prior to the
meeting date, setting forth the date, time, place, and purpose in general terms.
Section 4. No action shall be taken by the business committee except when a
quorum is present. A quorum shall consist of five committeemen.
Section 5. At the beginning of each meeting of the Comanche Business Committee,
the Tribal Secretary-Treasurer, or in his absence the acting secretary as may be
appointed by the Tribal Chairman, shall keep a record in the permanent minute
book of the names of those present and those absent. If a tribal committee is
absent for four (4) consecutive regularly scheduled meetings of the business
committee, the Tribal Chairman shall declare his seat vacant and so notify in
writing the tribal committeeman affected and steps shall be taken to fill the
vacancy pursuant to Article VIII, Section 1.
Section 6. All minutes of the business committee shall be published in a manner
to be determined by the business committee.
Section 7. The duties, responsibilities and authorities of the business
committee shall include the following:
a) To establish and maintain the tribal membership roll and to insure that the
roll is available for inspection at all reasonable times.
b) To determine qualification of candidates nominated for office and to conduct
election of tribal officers and business committeemen pursuant to the provision
of Section 2, Article VII, of this constitution.
c) To execute leases, contracts or permits for periods not to exceed five (5)
years with regard to property, which is owned exclusively by the Comanche Indian
Tribe, but does not include any jurisdiction over individually owned land or
personal property.
d) To develop annual budget for the financing of Comanche Tribal operations and
to present such budgets to the tribal council for final consideration as to
adoption or rejection.
1) The proposed annual tribal operating budget shall be disseminated to tribal
members forty-five (45) days prior to the annual meeting.
2) The budget shall be printed on a ballot in such a manner that each line item
may be approved or disapproved by the tribal members.
3) The line items of the budget shall be approved or disapproved in the election
of officers conducted subsequent to the annual meeting pursuant to Article VII,
Section 2., in which tribal officers are elected.
e) To develop proposals which are in the interest of fulfilling the purpose of
the Comanche Tribal Organization including, but not limited to, programs
involving employment, health, education, public relations, social, recreational,
and historical activities of the tribe. Such program proposals shall be
presented to the tribal council for final consideration as to adoption or
rejection.
f) To implement, administer, and report on progress of programs adopted by the
tribal council.
g) To appoint such subcommittees as are needed to develop the proposals
suggested herein or any other worthwhile endeavors, including delegation of such
authorities to these subcommittees as in commensurate with their
responsibilities.
h) To secure an audit of each fiscal year's financial activities relating to
funds from all sources, to publish the audit of the prior year's funds in the
tribal newspaper and two local newspapers at least sixty (60) days prior to each
annual meeting, and to prepare for delivery to those attending the annual tribal
council meeting a written annual report which shall contain a synopsis of varied
activities of the business committee, the previously published audit and a
forecast of activities proposed for the coming year. First audit funds shall
come out of any monies available to the tribe for expenditures, including but
not limited to the general budget fund or bingo fund. The audit shall be
conducted by a reputable firm that is completely disassociated from any tribal
member.
i) Such additional duties and/or responsibilities which may be assigned to the
business committee by the tribal council by appropriate resolution approved in
tribal council assembled.
j) To promulgate and enforce ordinances and codes governing law and order to
protect the peace, health, safety, and general welfare on land determined to be
within tribal jurisdiction subject to the approval of the Assistant Secretary
for Indian Affairs or his authorized representative.
Section 8. The term of office for each officer and committeeman shall be for a
period of three (3) years or until a successor is duly elected and installed in
office. Each officer or committeeman shall be eligible to serve two (2)
consecutive terms effective upon date of this amendment, present term being
counted as one term. At the completion of the second consecutive term of office,
an officer or a committeeman shall not be eligible for election to a position on
the business committee until a period of three (3) years elapsed. In addition,
an officer or committeeman who has completed tow (2) consecutive terms on the
business committee shall not be employed within the Comanche Tribal governmental
system until a period of three (3) years has elapsed. For the purpose of the
section, any portion of a term shall be considered as one term.
ARTICLE VII - ELECTIONS (Pursuant to Amendment II, adopted May 29, 1976, Amendment VI, adopted June 10, 1978, Amendment XVII, adopted April 25, 1981, and Amendment XXI, adopted September 29, 1984)
Section 1. As soon as practicable after this constitution is
adopted the Area Director shall call a tribal council meeting and shall hold and
supervise the first nomination and election hereunder for the tribal committee
and officers, as follows:
a) The Area Director may at his discretion delegate chairmanship of the initial
meeting to an employee under his supervision. A Secretary for the proceeding may
be provided by the Area Director from his staff or he may also designate this
responsibility to a member of the Comanche Indian Tribe.
b) At the initial meeting of the tribal council shall nominate candidates for
the office of the Tribal Chairman for (3) years, Vice-Chairman for three (3)
years, Secretary-Treasurer for two (2) years, two (2) business committee members
for two (2) years and two (2) business committee members for one (1).
Nominations shall be made from the floor and accepted by the Chairman. Persons
duly elected at the ensuing election shall serve for the terms stated above
unless their successors are duly elected prior to the expiration of such terms.
Thereafter, all terms of office shall be for a period of three years or until a
successor is duly elected. The terms of officers and committeemen shall be
subjected to the additional provisions of Article VI, Section 8.
c) A list of nominees shall be made a part of the official minutes of the
proceedings of this initial organization meeting from which determination shall
be made that all such nominees are officially qualified as candidates for office
in accordance with the provision of Article IX of this constitution. The Area
Director will be the final authority in making such determination as the
qualifications of candidates for the initial election of officers and
committeemen of the Comanche Indian Tribe.
d) Following the initial organization meeting, an election day shall be
designated to elect the business committeemen and officers from among the
candidates who were nominated during the initial meeting. This Election Day and
polling places shall be declared by the Area Director. The election of
committeemen and officers shall be by secret ballot. No absentee ballots will be
considered at such election.
Section 2. At each annual Comanche Tribal Council meeting subsequent to the firs
election of officers and business committeemen, under this constitution,
candidates will be nominated to compete for election to offices being vacated by
reason of expiration of term of office. Determination of reason of expiration of
term of office. Determination of qualifications of nominated candidates and
election processes shall be as described in Section1 (c) and (d) of this Article
except that the Comanche Tribal Officers and Business Committeemen will assume
the responsibilities assumed by the Area Director the first election under this
constitution and except that absentee ballots shall be considered at all
subsequent elections of officers and business committeemen. No election shall be
held later than 60 days after the annual meeting. Because a valid election was
not completed by the Comanche Indian Tribe within sixty (60) days after the 1980
Annual Meeting, the Anadarko Agency is authorized to conduct one (1) election
for the tribe pursuant to rules and regulations as prescribed by the Anadarko
Agency. The Anadarko Agency is further authorized to notice, call, and conduct a
special meeting of the Comanche Tribal Council for the sole purpose of
nominating candidates for the vacant or expired positions that will be filled
pursuant to the election.
Section 3. Should an incumbent of the Comanche Business Committee accept a
nomination at an annual tribal council meeting as a candidate for a different
office, that individual shall be required to resign the business committee
position, which he then holds. Although such resignation shall not be effective
until the completion of the year's election processes. Nomination for candidates
to fill the unexpired portion of such person's term of office shall be made at
the same tribal council meeting, which be, accepts nomination for a different
office.
ARTICLE VIII - VACANCIES AND REMOVAL FROM OFFICE (Pursuant to Amendment XV, adopted April 14, 1979)
Section 1. If a committeeman or officer of the tribe shall die
or resign, be removed or recalled from office, his office shall be deemed vacant
and the Tribal Chairman, or should this office be vacant, the Tribal
Vice-Chairman, shall immediately call a meeting of the Comanche Tribal Council
to be held within twenty (20) days for the purpose of filling such vacancy for
the unexpired term, except that when such vacancy shall occur within four months
of the annual meeting of the Comanche Tribal Council, the position shall remain
vacant until the next election when provisions shall be made to fill the
vacancy.
Section 2. The Comanche Tribal Council may at a meeting duly called specifically
for the purpose, recall any officers or committeemen for neglect for duty or
conduct that has brought disrepute upon the tribe. Such a meeting shall not be
unless a petition signed by two hundred (200) eligible voters of the Comanche
Tribe requesting recall of submitted to the Tribal Chairman. The recall of only
one officer or committeemen may be initiated per meeting called for purpose.
a) Following submission of an acceptable petition for a recall Tribal Council
meeting, the Tribal Chairman shall require that a signed Bill of Particulars
setting forth the elements of neglect or misconduct be submitted to the accused.
The petitioner's representative shall provide proper evidence of receipt by the
accused, the Tribal Chairman shall call an official meeting of the Comanche
Tribal Council within thirty (30) days for the purpose of hearing and
disposition of the case.
b) The format for the Tribal Council meeting shall be established as follows:
1) Presentation of the Bill of Particulars against the accused by a
representative of the accusers. This presentation shall be limited strictly to
those specifics included in the Bill of Particulars as presented to the accused.
2) The accused shall be given adequate opportunity to answer any and all charges
of which he or she is accused. The accused may personally present or may choose
to utilize the services of another to present this response.
c) Upon completion of these two presentations no further discussion shall be
allowed and voting shall proceed immediately in a manner prescribed by this
constitution.
d) A majority vote of those voting of the Tribal Council meeting shall be
sufficient to effect recall providing a quorum is present. Should a quorum not
be present the charges against the accused shall be declared null and void and
no further action shall be taken on this petition.
Section 3. Any officer or committeeman who shall be found guilty by any State or
Federal Court of a felony, a misdemeanor involving dishonesty or of accepting a
bribe shall forfeit his office and such office shall immediately become vacant
and be filled in accordance with Section 1. Of this Article.
ARTICLE IX - QUALIFICATIONS OF OFFICERS (Pursuant to Amendment XVI, adopted April 14, 1979)
Section 1. No person may seek tribal office unless he will be at
least twenty-one (21) years of age at the time of his election and is a member
of the Comanche Indian Tribe.
Section 2. No member of the Comanche Tribe who has been convicted of a felony, a
misdemeanor involving dishonesty or of accepting a bribe shall be eligible to
hold office.
Section 3. Any person recalled from office as a result of action by the Comanche
Tribal Council in accordance with Section 2. Of Article VIII of this
constitution shall forfeit the right to seek election to any position on the
Comanche Business Committee for a period of three years beyond the expiration of
the term of office in which the recalled person was serving at the time of
recall.
ARTICLE X - BILL OF RIGHTS
Section 1. All members of the Comanche Indian Tribe shall enjoy
without hindrance freedom of worship, conscience, speech, press, assembly and
association.
Section 2. This constitution shall not in any way be construed to alter, abridge
or otherwise jeopardize the rights and privileges of the Comanche Indians as
citizens of the United States.
Section 3. The individual vested property rights of any member of the Comanche
Indian Tribe, which shall include restricted lands and income therefrom as well
as personal property, shall not be altered, abridged or otherwise affected by
the provision of this constitution.
Section 4. Tribal members shall have the right to review tribal records,
including those of any enterprise operated/funded in the name of the Tribe
(including CERCO, Bingo and any other tribally operated/funded business) so long
as the examination of the records is permitted within seven (7) days of the
receipt of a written request for the review. No charge or fee shall be imposed
upon any tribal member in connection with the right to examine tribal records.
No person or committee shall be authorized to deny any tribal member the right
to make copies of tribal records except as required by Federal Statutes.
Section 5. No charge or filing fee shall be imposed upon any tribal member in
connection with the right to petition which are provided for in this
constitution. No person or committee shall be authorized to deny any tribal
member the right to petition.
ARTICLE XI - AMENDMENTS Pursuant to Amendment III, adopted May 29, 1976)
Section 1. Amendments to this constitution may be proposed by a
majority vote of the business committee or by a petition signed by two hundred
(200) adult members of the tribe who are entitled to vote, and if approved by
the Commissioner of Indian Affairs, shall be submitted to the voters of the
Tribe, and shall become effective when ratified by a majority vote of those who
cast ballots in an election called by the Commissioner of Indian Affairs.
ARTICLE XII - DUTIES OF OFFICERS Pursuant to Amendment VII, adopted June 10, 1978, and Amendment XXXVII, adopted April 28, 1994)
Section 1. The Chairman shall be the Chief Executive of the
Comanche Indian Tribe exercising the authorities and powers as delegated to his
office by this constitution and the Comanche Tribal Council. He shall preside at
all meetings of the Tribal Council and the Business Committee and be the
principal member of all tribal delegations. When so authorized by the Comanche
Tribal Council, he shall sign necessary papers instruments for the Comanche
Indian Tribe.
Section 2. The Vice-Chairman shall perform the duties of the Chairman in the
event of the temporary absence or disability or the Chairman or when it is
determined according to Article VIII, Section 2. That a hearing for removal of
the Chairman is deemed necessary by the Comanche Tribal General Council.
Section 3. The Secretary-Treasurer shall preside in the absence of the other
officers and shall keep the records, including financial records, of the
organization, shall record and keep the minutes of the tribal council and
business committee meetings in a permanent book, and shall be responsible for
sending all notices of meetings as herein required. He shall keep copies of all
such notices and request for meetings together with a statement by him or
another officer, as the case may be, that such notices were mailed and published
as required herein and place the same in the appropriate permanent minutes book
as a preface to the minutes of the meeting so called.
Section 4. Copies of all minutes of the tribal council and business committee
meetings and resolutions shall be sent to the Anadarko Agency.
ARTICLE XIII - ADOPTION
Section 1. This constitution shall become effective when
approved by the Commissioner of Indian Affairs and ratified by vote of the
eligible voters of the Comanche Indian Tribe voting in an election called by the
Commissioner; provided, that at least thirty (30) percent of those eligible to
vote cast ballots.
ARTICLE XIV KIOWA, COMANCHE AND APACHE INTERTRIBAL LAND USE COMMITTEE (Pursuant to Amendment IV, adopted May 29, 1976)
The Comanche Business Committee shall designate members of the
Comanche Business Committee to represent the tribe on the Kiowa, Comanche and
Apache Intertribal Land Use Committee to transact business regarding property
owned jointly by the three tribes. The representatives so designated shall be
authorized to enter, on behalf of the Comanche Tribe of Indians, into leases,
permits, easements, rights-of-way, contracts for development planning, and other
transactions, excepted the sale thereof, relating to tribal lands commonly owned
by the Kiowa, Comanche and Apache Tribes to the extent that the Comanche Tribal
Council could so act.
ARTICLE XV - NEPOTISM (Pursuant to Amendment VIII, adopted June 10, 1978)
Section 1. A relative of a member of the Comanche Tribal
Business Committee (to include wife, mother, father, son, daughter, sister,
brother) shall not be employed within the Comanche Tribal governmental system.
ARTICLE XVI - OATH OF OFFICE (Pursuant to Amendment IX, adopted June 10, 1978)
Section 1. Each member of the business committee and each officer or subordinate officers elected or appointed shall take an oath of office and pledge himself to support and defend the constitution of the Comanche Indian Tribe of Oklahoma prior to assuming the duties of his office. The following form of oath shall be given.
"I, ___________ do hereby solemnly affirm before Almighty God and mankind
that I will support and defend the constitution of the Comanche Indian Tribe,
and will carry out faithfully and impartially the duties of may office to the
best of my ability and will promote and protect the best interests of the
Comanche Indian Tribe in accordance with the tribal constitution.
I, _______________, Commissioner of Indian Affairs, do hereby approve the
foregoing Constitution of the Comanche Indian Tribe.
(signed) Commissioner
Date of signature, date ratified
UPDATED: JULY 1, 1997