Structuring Sovereignty: Constitutions of Native Nations

by Melissa L. Tatum, Miriam Jorgensen, Mary E. Guss

Nonfiction. Native American Studies. Law. Coauthored by Melissa L. Tatum, Miriam Jorgensen, Mary E. Guss, and Sarah Deer. Drafting and adopting a constitution is a collective journey of self-discovery and reflection for any nation, Indigenous or non- Indigenous. This book is a guide for communities engaged in the process of drafting a constitution and for students who are studying that process. It draws on research, firsthand experience with constitution writing and constitutional change, and numerous examples from actual governing documents to demonstrate the many ways that Indigenous nations can structure their sovereignty. Frank Pommersheim, Chief Justice, Cheyenne River Sioux Tribal Court of Appeals, calls STRUCTURING CONSTITUTIONS OF NATIVE NATIONS "incredibly timely... a most valuable companion... and a resource of the highest order."

210 pages, Paperback

First published April 1, 2014