American Indian Tribal Governments Structure and Powers
American Indian Tribal Governments Structure and Powers
American Indian tribal governments were established by the federal government through treaties and agreements with American Indian tribes that existed prior to the United States as sovereign nations. Within contemporary American government federally recognized tribal governments retain their powers to govern as sovereign nations through direct relationships with the federal government. This relationship is similar to the powers of states, and even though reservations lie within state boundaries, they do not come under state powers but retain powers directly from the tribal government. This recent presentation from the Idaho Chapter APA Planning Conference highlights the unique powers of American Indian tribal governments and the structures for successful intergovernmental relations between tribes and the federal government, as well as tribes and states and local governments.
