Whereas, the Alabama and Coushatta Tribes of Texas are a recognized Indian tribe organized under a constitution and by-laws ratified by the members of the Alabama and Coushatta Tribes on July 22, 1938, and approved by the Assistant Secretary of the Interior on August 19, 1938, pursuant to section 16 of the Act of June 18, 1934 (48 Stat. 984), as amended by the Act of June 15, 1935 (49 St.at. 378) ; and
    Whereas, more than one-third of the adult members of the Alabama and Coushatta Tribes of Texas have petitioned that a charter of incorporation be granted to said tribe, subject to ratification by a vote of the adult Indians of the tribe ;
    Now, therefore, I, Oscar L. Chapman, Assistant Secretary of the Interior, by virtue of the authority conferred upon me by the said Act of June 18, 1934 (48 Stat. 984), do hereby issue and submit this charter of incorporation to the Alabama and Coushatta Tribes of Texas, to be effective from and after such time as it may be ratified by a majority vote of the adult members of the tribe living on the Alabama and Coushatta Reservation at an election in which at least 30 percent of the eligible voters vote.
 

Corporate Existence.

1. In order to further the economic development of thetribe by conferring upon the said tribe certain corporate rights, powers, privileges and immunities; to secure for the members of the tribe an assured economic  independence ; and to provide for the proper exercise by the tribe of various functions heretofore performed by the Department of the Interior, theaforesaid tribe is hereby chartered as a body politic and corporate of the United States of America, under the corporate name "Alabama and Coushatta Tribes of Texas."

Perpetual  Succession. Membership

2. The Alabama and Coushatta Tribes of Texas shall as a Federal corporation, have perpetual succession. 3. The Alabama and Coushatta Tribes of Texas shallbe a membership corporation. Its members shall consist of all persons now or hereafter members of the tribe, as provided by its duly ratified and approved constitution and by-laws.

Management

4. The Tribal Council established in accordance with ment. the said constitution and by-laws of the Alabama and Coushatta Tribes of Texas shall exercise all the corporate powers hereinafter enumerated.

Corporate Powers

.5. The Alabama and Coushatta Tribes of Texas, subject to any restrictions contained in the Constitution and laws of the United States, or in the Constitution and by-laws of the said tribe, shall have the follow ing corporate powers, in addition to all powers already conferred or guaranteed by the tribal Consti tution'and By-laws : (a) To adopt, use, and alter at its pleasure a corporate seal. (b) To purchase, take by gift, bequest, or other wise, own, hold, manage, operate, and dispose of property of every description, real and personal, subject to the following limitations: (1) No sale or mortgage may be made by the tribe of any land, or interests in land, including water-power sites, now or hereafter held by the tribe. (2) No mortgage may be made by the tribe of any standing timber on any land now or hereafter held by the tribe within the boundaries of the reservation. (3) No leases, permits (which terms shall not include land assignments to members of the tribe) or-timber-sale contracts covering any land or interests in land now or hereafter held by the tribe within the boundaries of the reservation shall be made by the tribe for a longer term than ten years, and all such leases, permits, or contracts inust be approved by the Secretary of the Interior or by his duly authorized representative ; but mineral leases or any leases requiring  substantial  improvements of the land may be made for longer periods when authorized by law. Power sites may be leased with the consent of a majority of the voters of the tribe voting at an election in which at least 30 percent of the eligible voters vote. (4) No action shall be taken by or in behalf of the `tribe which in any way operates to destroy or injure the tribal grazing lands, timber, or other natural resources of the reservation. All leases, permits, and timber-sale con tracts relating to the use of tribal grazing or timber lands shall conform to regulations of the Secretary of the Interior authorized by Section 6 of the Act of June 18, 1934, with respect to range carrying capacity, sustained yield forestry management, and other matters therein specified. Conformity to such, regulations shall be made a condition of any such lease, permit, or timber sale contract, whether or not such agreement requires the approval of the Secretary of the Interior, and violation of such condition shall render the agreement revocable, in the discre tion of the Secretary of the Interior. (c) To issue interests in corporate property in exchange for restricted Indian lands, or other lands of members of the tribe, the forms for such interests to be approved by the Secretary of the I'nterior. (d) To borrow money from the Indian Credit Fund in accordance with the terms of Section 10 of the Act of June 18, 1934 (48 Stat. 984), or from any other governmental agency, or from any member or association of members of the tribe, and to use such funds directly for productive tribal enterprises, or to loan money thus borrowed to individual members or associations of members of the tribe:Provided, That the amount of indebtedness to which the tribe may subject itself, aside from loans from the Indian Credit Fund, shall not exceed $2,500, except with the express approval of the Secretary of the Interior. (e) To engage in any business that will further the economic well-being of the members of the tribe, or undertake any activity of any nature whatever, not inconsistent with law or with any provisions of this Charter.  (f) To make and perform contracts and agree ments of every description, not inconsistent with law or with any provisions of this Charter, with any person, association, or corporation, with any municipality or any county, or with the United States or the State of Texas, including agreements with the State of Texas, for the rendition of public services: Provided, That any contracts involving payment of money by the tribe in excess of $2,500 in any one fiscal year shall be subject to the approval of the Secretary of the Interior or his duly authorized representative. (g) To pledge or assign chattels or future tribal income due or to become due to the tribe: Provided, That no such assignments of tribal income, other than an assignment to the United States, shall not extend more than ten years from the date of execution and shall not amount for any one year to more than $2,500: And, provided further, That any such pledge or assignment shall be subject to the approval of the Secretary of the Interior or his duly authorized representative. (h) To deposit corporat.e funds, from whatever source derived, in any National or State bank to the extent that such funds are insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, or secured by a surety bond, or other security, approved by the Secretary of the Interior; or to deposit such funds in the Postal Savings Bank or with a bonded disbursing officer of the United States to the credit of the Alabama and Coushatta Tribes of Texas.  (i) To sue and be sued in courts of competent jurisdiction within the United States; but the grant or exercise of such power to sue and to be sued shall not be deemed a consent by the tribe or by the United States to the levy of any judgment, lien, or attachment upon the property of the tribe other than income or chattels specially pledged or assigned. (j)To exercise such further incidental powers, not inconsistent with law, as may be necessary to the conduct of corporate business.

Termination of  Supervisory Powers.

6.Upon the request of the Tribal Council for the ter mination of any supervisory power reserved to the Secretary of the Interior under sections 5 (b) (3), 5 (c), 5 (d), 5 (f), 5 (g), 5 (h), and section 8 of this Charter, the Secretary of the Interior, if he shall approve such request, shall thereupon submit the question of such termination for ratification by the tribe. The termination shall be effective upon ratification by a majority vote of the adult members of the tribe at an election in which at least 30 percent of the eligible voters vote. If at any time after ten years from the date of approval of this Charter, the Secretary shall disapprove a request for the termination of any such power, or fail to approve or disapprove it within 90 days after its receipt, the question of its termination may then be submitted by the Secretary or by the Tribal Council to popular referendum of the adult members of the tribe and if the termination is approved  by two thirds of the eligible voters living on the reservation, it shall be effective.

Corporate  Property.

7. No property rights of the tribe shall be in any way impaired by anything contained in this Charter, and the tribal ownership of unallotted lands, whether or not assigned to the use of any particular individuals, is hereby expressly recogmzed. The individually owned property of members of the tribe shall not be subject to any corporate debts or liabilities without such owners consent. Any existing lawful debts of the tribe. shall continue in force, except as such debts may be satisfied or canceled pursuant to law.

Corporate Dividends.

8. The Alabama and Coushatta Tribes of Texas may issue to each of its members a nontransferable certificate of membership evidencing the equal share of each member in the assets of the tribe and may distribute per capita, among the recognized members of the tribe, all profits of corporate enterprises or in come over and above sums necessary to defray   corporate obligations to members of the tribe or to other persons and over and above all sums which may be devoted to the establishment of a reserve fund, the construction of public works, the costs of public enterprises, the expenses of tribal government, the needs of charity, or other corporate purposes. No such distribution of profits or income in any one year amounting to a per capita cash payment of $100 or more, shall be made without the approval of the Secretary of the Interior.

Corporate Accounts.

9. The officers of the tribe shall maintain accurate and complete public accounts of the financial affairs of the tribe, which shall clearly show all credits, debts, pledges, and assignments, and shall furnish an annual balance sheet and report of the financial affairs of the tribe to the Commissioner of Indian Affairs.

Amend ments.

10. This Charter shall not be revoked or surrendered except by Act of Congress, but amendments may be proposed by resolution of the Tribal Council which, if approved by the Secretary of the Interior, shall be effective when ratified by a majority vote of the adult members of the tribe residing on the Alabama and Coushatta Reservation at a popular referendum in which at least 30 percent of  the eligible voters vote.

Ratifica tion.

11. This Charter shall be effective from and after the date of its ratification by a majority vote of the adult members of the tribe residing on the Alabama and Coushatta Reservation, provided at least 30 percent of the eligible voters shall vote, such ratification to be formally certified by the Superintendent of the Kiowa Agency and the Chairman and Secretary of the Tribal Council.

Submitted by the Assistant Secretary of the Interior for ratification by the Alabama and Coushatta Tribes of Texas.

WASHINGTON, D. C., June 6, 1939
 

    Pursuant to section 3 of the Act of June 26; 1936 (49 Stat. 1967)) this, Charter, issued on May 29, 1939. by the Assistant Secretary of the Interior to the Alabama and Coushatta Tribes of Texas was duly submitted for ratification to the adult members of the Tribe residing on the Alabama and Coushatta Reservation and was on October 17, 1939 duly ratified by a vote of 78 for; and 3 against, in an election in which over 30 percent of those,entitled to vote cast their ballots.

CLEMSON SYLESTINE, Chairman, Tribal Council.
H OLLIS BATITSE, Secretary, Tribal Cowncil.

W. B. MCCOWN, Superintendent, Kiowa Agency.

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