Omar Bennett
The Navajo Nation, a federally recognized tribe located in Arizona, New Mexico, Utah, and Colorado, does not have a constitution. While there have been several attempts to draft and adopt a constitution, members of the Navajo Nation have found the process too cumbersome and a potential threat to tribal self-determination. The Navajo Nation has a complex governmental structure, with an Executive Branch, a Legislative Branch, and a codified Bill of Rights. The Navajo Nation's government is influenced by traditional models, with headmen chosen by clan groups, and the official language of the Navajo Nation is Navajo Diné Bizaad.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Reasons for not having a constitution | In 1933, the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) attempted to mitigate environmental damage due to overgrazing on reservations, causing significant pushback from the Navajo, who were discontent with how their herds were being reduced. |
| In 1934, the federal government encouraged tribes to form governments based on the US constitution, but the Navajo did not trust this process due to the herd issues. | |
| In 1935, they feared the proposed government would hinder the development and recovery of their livestock industries. | |
| In 1953, they were concerned about restrictions on developing mineral resources. | |
| Attempts to form a constitution | In 2006, a committee for a "Navajo Constitution" advocated for a constitutional convention with representation from every chapter of the Navajo Nation. |
| The Navajo Nation has a Bill of Rights in Title 1 of the Navajo Nation Code. | |
| Current form of government | The Navajo Nation has a government based on traditional models, with headmen chosen by clan groups. |
| The Executive Branch consists of the President and Vice President, who are elected every four years and can serve a maximum of two terms. | |
| The Navajo Nation Council is the Legislative Branch, consisting of 24 delegates since 2011. |
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What You'll Learn
The Navajo Nation is a federally recognised tribe in the US
The Navajo Nation, also known as Navajoland, is a federally recognised tribe in the United States. It is an Indian reservation of Navajo people, occupying parts of Arizona, New Mexico, Utah, and Colorado. The Navajo Nation is the largest Indian reservation in the US, covering roughly 17,544,500 acres (71,000 km2; 27,413 sq mi). This exceeds the size of ten individual US states. In 2020, the Navajo Nation had a total of 399,494 tribal members, making it the largest tribal group by enrolment, surpassing the Cherokee Nation.
The Navajo Nation has a complex system of governance, with an Executive Branch consisting of a President and Vice President, who are elected every four years for a maximum of two terms. The Navajo Nation Council, consisting of 24 delegates since 2011, forms the Legislative Branch. The Navajo Nation also has a judiciary, with District Courts and a Supreme Court, whose judges are nominated by the Executive.
Despite these governmental structures, the Navajo Nation does not have an official constitution. There have been several attempts to draft and adopt a constitution, particularly under the Indian Reorganization Act (IRA) of 1934, when the federal government encouraged tribes to form governments modelled on the US Constitution. However, these attempts were often met with resistance from the Navajo people, who feared a loss of self-determination and restrictions on their traditional practices, such as livestock herding and mineral resource development.
In 2006, a committee of former Navajo leaders and activists advocated for a Navajo constitutional convention to create a constitution representing all chapters of the Navajo Nation. While the Navajo Nation does not have a constitution, it has codified a Bill of Rights in Title 1 of the Navajo Nation Code, and its laws are recognised within the context of Federal Indian Law and US treaties.
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There have been several attempts to draft a constitution
The Navajo Nation, also known as Navajoland, is an Indian reservation of Navajo people in the United States. It occupies portions of northeastern Arizona, northwestern New Mexico, and southeastern Utah. The Navajo Nation is the largest Indian reservation in the United States, exceeding the size of ten U.S. states.
In 2006, a committee for a "Navajo Constitution" began advocating for a Navajo constitutional convention with representation from every chapter of the Navajo Nation. The committee proposed a traditional and modern format for the convention, where every member of the nation wishing to participate could do so through their home chapters. The committee was formed by former Navajo leaders Kelsey Begaye, Peterson Zah, Peter MacDonald, Ivan Gamble, and other local political activists. However, members found the process to be too cumbersome and a potential threat to tribal self-determination.
Despite not having a constitution, the Navajo Nation has a functioning government with an Executive Branch and a Legislative Branch. The Executive Branch consists of the President and the Vice President, who are elected every four years and cannot serve more than two terms. The Legislative Branch consists of the Navajo Nation Council, which had 24 delegates as of 2011. The nation also has a Bill of Rights codified in Title 1 of the Navajo Nation Code.
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The Navajo Nation has a Bill of Rights
The Navajo Nation, a federally recognised tribe located within the states of Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado, and Utah, does not have a constitution. The Navajo Nation Government is located in Window Rock, Arizona, and the tribe's official language is Navajo Diné Bizaad.
There have been several attempts to draft and adopt a constitution, but none have succeeded. In 1934, under the Indian Reorganization Act, the federal government encouraged tribes to revive their governments according to constitutional models based on that of the United States. However, due to discontent over herd issues, Navajo voters did not trust the language of the proposed constitution. In 1935, they feared that the proposed government would hinder the development and recovery of their livestock industries, and in 1953, they worried about restrictions on the development of mineral resources.
Despite not having a formal constitution, the Navajo Nation has a Bill of Rights codified in Title 1 of the Navajo Nation Code. The Navajo Nation also has a codified system of laws and governance. The Executive Branch consists of the President and Vice President, who are elected every four years and can serve a maximum of two terms. The Legislative Branch consists of the Navajo Nation Council, which had 88 council delegates until 2011 when the number was reduced to 24. The Navajo Nation Council is made up of 5 Standing Committees and 8 Sub-Committees, and it plays a crucial role in the legislative process.
The Navajo Nation has a rich history and culture, with clan leadership serving as a de facto government at the local level. The Navajo people have faced challenges and struggles, including environmental issues and the fight for recognition as a sovereign nation. The treaties with the United States form the foundation of the trust relationship between the Navajo Nation and the United States.
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The Navajo Nation government is located in Window Rock, Arizona
The Navajo Nation, also known as Navajoland, is an Indian reservation of Navajo people in the United States. It occupies parts of northeastern Arizona, northwestern New Mexico, and southeastern Utah. The Navajo Nation is the largest Indian reservation in the country, covering an area of roughly 17,544,500 acres (71,000 km2; 27,413 sq mi). The seat of its government is located in Window Rock, Arizona.
The Navajo Nation does not have an official constitution, despite several attempts to draft and adopt one. The Navajo people have traditionally been governed by clan leadership, which serves as a de facto local government. In the early 20th century, the federal government encouraged tribes to form governments modelled after the US Constitution through the Indian Reorganization Act (IRA) of 1934. However, the Navajo people faced issues with the proposed constitution, primarily due to discontent with the federal government's handling of livestock herd sizes, which were central to their culture.
In subsequent years, there were further efforts to establish a constitution, but these were rejected by members of the tribe who feared that the proposed forms of government would restrict their autonomy and development. They continued to favour a traditional model of governance, with headmen chosen by clan groups. In 2006, a committee was formed to advocate for a Navajo constitutional convention, aiming for representation from every chapter of the Navajo Nation.
Today, the Navajo Nation Government in Window Rock, Arizona, functions as the tribe's official governing body. The Executive Branch consists of a President and Vice President, elected every four years for a maximum of two terms. The Navajo Nation Council, part of the Legislative Branch, was reorganised in 1989 and reduced from 88 to 24 delegates in 2011. The Navajo Nation has also codified a Bill of Rights in Title 1 of the Navajo Nation Code, outlining the powers and duties of the President and Vice President. The official language of the Navajo Nation is Navajo Diné Bizaad, although English is also commonly used.
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The Navajo Nation consists of several divisions, departments, offices, and programs
The Navajo Nation, also known as Navajoland, is a federally recognised Indian reservation of Navajo people in the United States. It covers parts of Arizona, New Mexico, Utah, and Colorado, and is the largest Indian reservation in the country. The Navajo Nation consists of several divisions, departments, offices, and programs, as established by law.
The Navajo Nation Government is based in Window Rock, Arizona, a location of ceremonial significance. The Executive Branch of the government consists of the President and Vice President, who are elected for four-year terms and can serve a maximum of two terms. The President and Vice President are responsible for conducting, supervising, and coordinating personnel and programs of the Navajo Nation, as well as representing the Navajo Nation in relations with other agencies. The Navajo Nation Council, consisting of 24 delegates since 2011, forms the Legislative Branch.
In the past, there have been several attempts to draft and adopt a Constitution for the Navajo Nation, including efforts under the Indian Reorganization Act of 1934. However, these attempts were often met with resistance due to concerns about tribal self-determination and restrictions on traditional practices, such as livestock herding and mineral resource development. The Navajo Nation has continued to operate under a traditional government model, with headmen chosen by clan groups.
In 2006, a committee was formed by former Navajo leaders and activists to advocate for a Navajo constitutional convention, aiming for representation from every chapter of the Navajo Nation. While the Navajo Nation does not currently have a formal constitution, it has codified a Bill of Rights in Title 1 of the Navajo Nation Code. Additionally, the Navajo Nation has an official language, Navajo Diné Bizaad, and its own Tribal Courts, which are outlined in the Tribal Courts Directory.
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Frequently asked questions
The Navajo Nation does not have a constitution because there has been pushback against the proposed constitutions. In 1935, the Navajo people feared that the proposed government would hinder the development and recovery of their livestock industry, and in 1953, they were concerned about restrictions on the development of mineral resources.
The Navajo Nation, also known as Navajoland, is an Indian reservation of Navajo people in the United States. It occupies portions of Arizona, New Mexico, and Utah and is the largest Indian reservation in the country.
The Navajo Nation has a government based on traditional models, with headmen chosen by clan groups. The Executive Branch consists of the President and Vice President, who are elected every four years and cannot serve more than two terms.
Yes, in 2006, a committee for a "Navajo Constitution" began advocating for a Navajo constitutional convention with representation from every chapter of the Navajo Nation.
