§5203 — Title 25 Indians | U.S. Code

Summary

Recognized tribes or bands in Oklahoma may organize for their common welfare and write a constitution and bylaws under rules the Secretary of the Interior sets. The Secretary can give an organized group a corporate charter. The charter only takes effect if a majority of the adult members who vote approve it, and the vote is valid only if at least 30% of those eligible cast ballots. A charter can let the group use powers like other Oklahoma corporations and let it join the revolving credit fund or get other benefits under the Act of June 18, 1934. The group's corporate money can be kept in any national bank in Oklahoma or used and invested as the charter allows.

Title 25, §5203

Indians — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

Any recognized tribe or band of Indians residing in Oklahoma shall have the right to organize for its common welfare and to adopt a constitution and bylaws, under such rules and regulations as the Secretary of the Interior may prescribe. The Secretary of the Interior may issue to any such organized group a charter of incorporation, which shall become operative when ratified by a majority vote of the adult members of the organization voting: Provided, however, That such election shall be void unless the total vote cast be at least 30 per centum of those entitled to vote. Such charter may convey to the incorporated group, in addition to any powers which may properly be vested in a body corporate under the laws of the State of Oklahoma, the right to participate in the revolving credit fund and to enjoy any other rights or privileges secured to an organized Indian tribe under the Act of June 18, 1934 (48 Stat. 984) [25 U.S.C. 5101 et seq.]: Provided, That the corporate funds of any such chartered group may be deposited in any national bank within the State of Oklahoma or otherwise invested, utilized, or disbursed in accordance with the terms of the corporate charter.

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

References in Text

Act of June 18, 1934, referred to in text, popularly known as the Indian Reorganization Act, is classified generally to chapter 45 (§ 5101 et seq.) of this title. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see

Short Title

note set out under section 5101 of this title and Tables. Codification Section was formerly classified to section 503 of this title prior to editorial reclassification and renumbering as this section.

§5203 Organization of tribes or bands; constitution; charter; right to participate in revolving credit fund