Chahta I Yakni Vlhpisa Ikki / Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma Government

Chahta I Yakni Vlhpisa Ikki, also, Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma Government. . , The Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma is an American Indian Tribe organized pursuant to the provisions of the Act of June 26, 1936-49. Stat. 1967, and is federally recognized by the United States government through the Secretary of the Interior. The Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma consists of ten and one-half counties in the southeastern part of Oklahoma. The Choctaw Nation is bounded on the east by the state of Arkansas, on the south by the Red River, and on the north by the South Canadian, Canadian, and Arkansas Rivers. The western boundary generally follows a line slightly west of Durant, then due north to the South Canadian River. The Tribe is governed by the Choctaw Nation Constitution which was ratified by the people on June 9, 1984. The Constitution provides for an Executive, a Legislative, and a Judicial branch of government. The Chief of the Choctaw Nation, elected every four years, is not a voting member of the Tribal Council. The legislative authority of the Tribe is vested in the Tribal Council, which consists of 12 members who are elected within their district. The Tribal Council is responsible for adopting rules and regulations which govern the Choctaw Nation, for approving all budgets, making decisions concerning the management of Tribal property, and all other legislative matters. The Tribal Council members are the voice and representation of the Choctaw people in the Tribal government. By planning and implementing its own programs and building a strong economic base, the Choctaw Nation applies its own fiscal, natural, and human resources to develop self-sufficiency. These efforts can only succeed through strong governance, sound economic development, and positive social development under the guidance of great leaders who are concerned for the life and well-being of the Choctaw people.