UNITED STATES
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
OFFICE OF INDIAN AFFAIRS
CORPORATE CHARTER
OF THE
CONFEDERATED TRIBES
OF THE
GOSHUTE RESERVATION
UTAH
RATIFIED MARCH 29,1941
UNITED STATES
GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE
WASHINGTON: 1941
CORPORATE CHARTER OF THE CONFEDERATED TRIBES
OF THE GOSHUTE RESERVATION, UTAH
A FEDERAL CORPORATION CHARTERED UNDER THE ACT OF
JUNE 18,1934
Whereas, the Confederated Tribes of the Goshute Reservation
is a recognized Indian tribe organized under a Constitution and By-laws
ratified by the Tribes on November 9, 1940, and approved by the Secretary
of the Interior on November 25, 1940, pursuant to Section 16 of the Act
of June 18,1934 (48 Stat. 984), as amended by the Act of June 15, 1935
(49 Stat. 378); and
Whereas, more than one-third of the adult members
of the Tribes have petitioned that a charter of incorporation be granted
to such Tribes, subject to ratification by a vote of the adult Indians
living on the reservation;
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 Confederated Tribes of the Goshute Reservation
to be effective from and after such time as it may be ratified by a majority
vote in an election at which at least 30 percent of the adult Indians living
on the reservation shall vote.
Corporate Existence | 1. In order to further the economic development of the Confederated Tribes of the Goshute Reservation in Utah by conferring upon the said Tribes certain corporate rights, powers, privileges and immunities; to secure for the members of the Tribes an assured economic independence; and to provide for the proper exercise by the Tribes of various functions heretofore performed by the Department of the Interior, the aforesaid Tribes are hereby chartered as a body politic and corporate of the United States of America, under the corporate name "The Confederated Tribes of the Goshute Reservation". |
Perpetual Succession | 2. The Confederated Tribes of the Goshute Reservation shall, as a Federal Corporation, have perpetual succession. |
Membership | 3. The Confederated Tribes of the Goshute Reservation shall be a membership corporation. Its members shall consist of all persons now or hereafter members of the Tribes, as provided by its duty ratified and approved Constitution and By-laws. |
Management | 4. The Goshute Business Council established in accordance with the Constitution and By-laws of the Confederated Tribes shall exercise all the corporate powers hereinafter enumerated. |
Corporate Powers | 5. The Tribes, subject to any restrictions contained in the Constitution
and laws of the United States, or in the Constitution and By-laws of the
said Tribes, shall have the following corporate powers, in addition to
all powers already conferred or guaranteed by the tribal Constitution and
By-laws:
(a) To adopt, use, and alter at its pleasure, a corporate seal. |
Termination of Supervisory Powers | 6. Upon request by the Goshute Business Council for the termination of any supervisory power reserved to the Secretary of the Interior under Sections 5 (b) (2), 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 Tribes. The termination shall be effective upon ratification by a majority vote of the adult members of the Tribes residing on the Reservation at an election in which at least thirty percent of the eligible voters vote. If at any time after ten years from the date of ratification of this Charter such request shall be made and the Secretary shall disapprove it or fail to approve or disapprove it within ninety days after its receipt, the question of the termination of any such power be submitted by the Secretary or by the Business Council to popular referendum of the adult members of the Tribes actually living within the Reservation, and if the termination is approved by two-thirds of the eligible voters, it shall be effective. |
Corporate Property | 7. No property rights of the Confederated Tribes of the Goshute Reservation 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 recognized. The individually owned property of members of the Confederated Tribes shall not be subject to any corporate debts or liabilities, without such owners' consent. Any existing lawful debts of the Tribes shall continue in force except as such debts may be satisfied or cancelled pursuant to law. |
Corporate Dividends | 8. The Confederated Tribes may issue to each of its members a nontransferable certificate of membership evidencing the equal share of each member in the assets of the Tribes and may distribute per capita, among the recognized members of the Tribes, all income of the Tribes over and above sums necessary to defray corporate obligations to members of the Tribes 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 purpose. Any such distribution of profits in any one year amounting to a distribution of more than one-half of the accrued surplus, shall not be made, without the approval of the Secretary of the Interior. No financial assets of the Tribes shall be distributed except as provided herein. |
Corporate Accounts | 9. The officers of the Confederated Tribes shall maintain accurate and complete public accounts of the financial affairs of the Tribes, which shall clearly show all credits, debts, pledges, and assigmments, and shall furnish an annual balance sheet and report of the financial affairs of the Tribes to the Commissioner of Indian Affairs. |
Amendments | 10. This Charter shall not be revoked or surrendered except by Act of Congress, but amendments may be proposed by resolutions of the Business Council which, if approved by the Secretary of the Interior, shall be effective when ratified by a majority vote of the adult members living on the reservation at a popular referendum in which at least 30 percent of the eligible voters vote. |
Ratification | 11. This Charter shall be effective from and after the date of its ratification by a majority vote of the adult members of the Confederated Tribes of the Goshute Reservation, provided at least 30 percent of the eligible voters shall vote, such ratification to be formally certified by the Superintendent of the Western Shoshone Indian Agency and the Chairman and Secretary of the Goshute Business Council. |
Submitted by the Assistant Secretary of the Interior
for ratification by the Confederated Tribes of the Goshute Reservation.
OSCAR L. CHAPMAN,
Assistant Secretary.
[SEAL]
Washington, D. C., February 19, 1941.
CERTIFICATION
Pursuant to section l7 of the Act of June 18, 1934
(48 Stat. 984), this Charter, issued on February 19, 1941, by the Assistant
Secretary of the Interior to the Confederated Tribes of the Goshute Reservation
in Utah, was duly submitted for ratification to the adult Indians residing
on the reservation and was on March 29, 1941, duly ratified by a vote of
33 for, and 0 against, in an election in which over 30 percent of those
entitled to vote cast their ballots.
JOHN SYME,
Chairman, Goshute Business Council.
ARTHUR JOHNSON,
Secretary, Goshute Business Council.
CARL BECK,
Supt., Western Shoshone Aqency.