What is the meaning of tribal sovereignty?
Tribal sovereignty refers to the rights of Native American tribes to govern themselves, rather than submit to the authority of the state or federal governments. The precedents of tribal sovereignty stretch back to the founding of the U.S. Constitution.Nations Within NationsAccording to the American Indian Policy Center, sovereignty means that the Indian tribes are essentially independent nations within the nation of the United States. Indian tribes can thus form their own governments, elect their own leaders and manage their own affairs; the federal government can provide aid and assistance, but basically negotiates with them as they would another foreign nation.Constitutional PrecedentThe U.S. Constitution defines the right of Indian tribes to form their own government. Article 1, Section 8 gives Congress the ability to set the tribes aside from federal jurisdiction.Court DecisionsThe Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribal Council and American Indian Policy Center both cite the 1832 Supreme C
