We, the Peoria Indians of Oklahoma, in order to take advantage of the opportunities of economic independence and social advancement offered by the Thomas-Rogers Oklahoma Indian Welfare Act of June 26, 1936 (49 Stat. 1967), do adopt the following constitution and by-laws pursuant to that Act.

    The name of this organization shall be the Peoria Tribe of Indians of Oklahoma.

    SECTION 1. The membership of the Peoria Tribe of Indians of Oklahoma shall consist of the following persons:

(a) All persons of Indian blood whose names appear on the official census roll of the Tribe as of January 1, 1937.

(b) All children born since the date of the said roll, both of whose parents are members of the Tribe.

(c) Any child who has been or may be born of a marriage between a member of the Peoria Tribe and a member of any other Indian tribe and who chooses to affiliate with the Peoria Tribe.

(d) Any child born of a marriage between a member of the Peoria Tribe and any other person, if such child is admitted to membership by the Council of the Peoria Tribe.

    The supreme governing body of the Tribe shall be the Peoria Council. The membership of the Peoria Council shall be all the Peoria Indians residing in Oklahoma; 21 years of age and over.

    The officers of the Tribe shall be the Chief, Second Chief, Secretary-Treasurer, and two Councilmen, who shall be elected at an open council meeting by a majority vote of the membership present.

    SECTION 1. There shall be a Business Committee which shall consist of the officers and councilmen as provided in Article IV. The Business Committee shall have power to appoint subordinate committees and representatives, to transact business and otherwise speak or act on behalf of the Tribe in all matters on which the Tribe is empowered to act. The powers of the Tribe shall be set forth in detail rn the corporate charter to be requested by the Business Committee.

    SEC. 2. Grievance Committee.-This Committee shall consist of three members who shall be elected by the membership of the council and shall not include any members of the Business Committee. The term of office shall be for two years.

    SECTION 1. Regular elections of officers shall be held by the council on the first Tuesday of March 1940, and each fourth year thereafter.

    SEC. 2. The term of office shall be for four years or until their successors are elected and installed, provided that the present officers shall serve until the first regular election.

    SEC. 3. Nominations shall be made from the floor. Election shall be by standing vote or by written ballot, a majority vote being necessary to elect. Where there are more than two candidates and no one receives a majority vote the low candidate shall be eliminated and voting proceed until one candidate receives a majority of votes cast. The newly elected officers shall be installed immediately upon their election.

    Vacancies in any elective office shall be filled at any regular or special meeting of the Peoria Council.

    The Grievance Committee shall investigate complaints of misconduct or other acts of the members of the Business Committee and upon a proper showing shall call a special meeting of the Peoria Council to act upon such complaints. Such council shall have power, by a majority vote, after giving the accused a hearing, to remove him from office and proceed to elect a successor.

    Amendments to this Constitution and the attached By-laws may be proposed by a majority vote of the Business Committee or by a petition signed by 30 per cent of the adult members of the Tribe, and if approved by the Secretary of the Interior shall be submitted to a referendum vote of the members of the Tribe, and shall be effective if approved by a majority vote of those voting in the election.

    SECTION 1. Chief.-It shall be the duty of the Chief to preside at all meetings and perform all duties appertaining to the office, also to act as chairman of the Business Committee.

    SEC. 2. Second Chief.-In the absence of the Chief, or during procedure to remove him, the Second Chief shall perform the duties of that officer. In case of vacancy, the Second Chief shall succeed at once to the office of the Chief until the next special or regular election for the office of Chief.

    SEC. 3. Secretary-Treasurer.-The Secretary-Treasurer shall correctly record the proceedings of all meetings. He shall make out the order of the business for the Chief, shall notify all committees of their appointments, shall have custody of the records and all papers of the Council, which records and papers shall be open to inspection at any time, in his presence, by any member of the Council desiring to read them. He shall keep a correct list of all members of the council, shall authenticate all accounts or orders of the council and, in the absence of the Chief and Second Chief, shall call the meeting to order until a chairman pro tem is selected. He shall render a written report at the annual meeting and at the expiration of his term of office records and all papers in his possession shall be turned over to his successor. He shall issue notices of all meetings and conduct all general correspondence, as directed by the council or the Business Committee. He shall receive all moneys of the council and keep an accurate account of receipts and disbursements.

    The Secretary-Treasurer shall keep all tribal moneys entrusted to his care in a special account and all disbursements therefrom should be made by check. At any time that such account shall amount to more than $50.00, he shall file a bond satisfactory to the Business Committee and the Commissioner of Indian Affairs. The cost of such bond shall be paid out of tribal moneys.

    Any person elected to membership in the Business Committee shall be not less than 25 years of age, a member of the Peoria Tribe of Indians of Oklahoma and a resident of the Quapaw Indian Agency jurisdiction. Any member of the Business Committee removing from the State of Oklahoma shall automatically lose his office.

    SECTION 1. Annual meetings of the council shall be held on the first Tuesday of March for the purpose of receiving reports and transacting any other business which may come regularly before the council.

    SEC. 2. Special meetings of the council may be called at the discretion of the Chief, and shall be called by him upon the written request of the majority of the Business CommIttee or upon the written request of ten members of the Tribe: Provided, That at least ten days' notice shall be given in each instance.

    SEC. 3. The principal object of the special meeting must be stated in the call for same and may include the words "and for the transaction of other business that may be presented." Unless these words are added, no other business can be transacted except for the object stated in the call.

    SEC. 4. Unless otherwise provided by resolution, the regular meetings of the Business Committee shall be held the last Saturday in each month.

    SEC. 5. Special meetings of the Business Committee may be called by the Chief at his discretion, and shall be called by him upon the written request of three members of the Business Committee.

    SEC. 6. Unless some other point under the Quapaw Agency jurisdiction is designated in the call or notice, all meetings of the council and of the Business Committee shall be held at the Quapaw Indian Agency.

    SECTION 1. Three members of the Business Committee shall constitute a quorum at any meeting.

    SEC. 2. Twenty-five members of the Peoria Council shall constitute a quorum to transact regular business.

    This Constitution and By-laws shall be effective when approved by the Secretary of the Interior and ratified by a majority vote of the Indians of the Peoria Tribe voting at an election called by the Secretary of the Interior under regulations which he may prescribe pursuant to section 3 of the Oklahoma Indian Welfare Act of June 26, 1936: Provided, That at least 20 per cent of the eligible voters vote in such election.

    I, Oscar L. Chapman, the Assistant Secretary of the Interior of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority granted me by the Act of June 26, 1936 (49 Stat. 1967), do hereby approve the attached Constitution and By-laws of the Peoria Tribe of Oklahoma.

                                                                                                                                                  OSCAR L. CHAPMAN,

    Pursuant to an order, approved August 16, 1939 by the Assistant Secretary of the Interior, the attached Constitution and By-laws was submitted for ratification to the members of the Peoria Indian Tribe of Oklahoma and was on October 10, 1939 duly accepted by a vote of 69 for, and none against, in an election in which over 20 per cent of those entitled to vote cast their ballots, pursuant to section 3 of the Oklahoma Indian Welfare Act of June 26, 1936 (49 Stat. 1967).

                                                                                                                          THE PEORIA BUSINESS COMMITTEE,
                                                                                                                     By GEORGE SKY,
                                                                                                                          LEO FINLEY,
                                                                                                                          ADA MOORE PALMER,
                                                                                                                          SHERMAN STATON.

            H. A. ANDREWS,
                 Superintendent, Quapaw Agency.

       By J. A. PHIFER,
                 Deputy Disbursing Agent.