1.

Record Nr.

UNINA9910777501503321

Titolo

American Indian constitutional reform and the rebuilding of Native nations [[electronic resource] /] / edited by Eric D. Lemont

Pubbl/distr/stampa

Austin, : University of Texas Press, 2006

ISBN

0-292-79584-X

Edizione

[1st ed.]

Descrizione fisica

1 online resource (360 p.)

Altri autori (Persone)

LemontEric D <1969-> (Eric David)

Disciplina

342.7308/72

Soggetti

Indians of North America - Legal status, laws, etc

Indians of North America - Politics and government

Lingua di pubblicazione

Inglese

Formato

Materiale a stampa

Livello bibliografico

Monografia

Note generali

Includes index.

Nota di contenuto

Remaking tribal constitutions : meeting the challenges of tradition, colonialism, and globalization / Duane Champagne -- Seasons of change : of reforms, melees, and revolutions in Indian country / David Wilkins -- The Indian Reorganization Act and indian self-government / Elmer Rusco -- Firsthand accounts : why engage in constitutional reform? -- Members only : designing citizenship requirements for Indian nations / Carole Goldberg -- My grandma, her people, our constitution / Joseph Thomas Flies-Away -- Firsthand accounts : membership and citizenship -- Constitutional rule and the effective governance of Native nations / Joseph Kalt -- Firsthand accounts : governmental institutions -- Realizing constitutional change through citizen participation / Eric Lemont -- The process of constitutional reform / Steven Haberfeld -- Firsthand accounts : maximizing citizen participation and ownership in reform processes -- Overcoming the politics of reform : the story of the Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma Constitution Convention / Eric Lemont -- Firsthand account : overcoming the politics of reform / Martha Berry.

Sommario/riassunto

Since 1975, when the U.S. government adopted a policy of self-determination for American Indian nations, a large number of the 562 federally recognized nations have seized the opportunity to govern themselves and determine their own economic, political, and cultural futures. As a first and crucial step in this process, many nations are revising constitutions originally developed by the U.S. government to



create governmental structures more attuned to native people's unique cultural and political values. These new constitutions and the governing institutions they create are fostering greater governmental stability and accountability, increasing citizen support of government, and providing a firmer foundation for economic and political development. This book brings together for the first time the writings of tribal reform leaders, academics, and legal practitioners to offer a comprehensive overview of American Indian nations' constitutional reform processes and the rebuilding of native nations. The book is organized in three sections. The first part investigates the historical, cultural, economic, and political motivations behind American Indian nations' recent reform efforts. The second part examines the most significant areas of reform, including criteria for tribal membership/citizenship and the reform of governmental institutions. The book concludes with a discussion of how American Indian nations are navigating the process of reform, including overcoming the politics of reform, maximizing citizen participation, and developing short-term and long-term programs of civic education.