Government

	We strongly believe that economic development which benefits the entire community is in the best interest of both tribal member and non-Indians. To this end, the Nation's business and gaming endeavors produce many positive results, including job creation, the attraction of tourism revenue, and the reduction of poverty and unemployment.

The Citizen Potawatomi Nation exercises governmental jurisdiction in an area bounded by the North Canadian River, the South Canadian River, the Pottawatomie-Seminole County boundary (on the east), and the Indian Meridian (on the west).

The Citizen Potawatomi Nation's right to exercise sovereign authority has been recognized since time immemorial.

The Nation's governmental structure incorporates executive, legislative, and judicial functions. The Chairman, Vice Chairman, and Secretary-Treasurer comprise the Executive Committee. The recent approval of the revised CPN Constitution created a 16-member CPN legislature. Half the members have been elected at-large from Oklahoma to represent their fellow Citizen Potawatomis in the state. Each of the other eight members represents a legislative district outside Oklahoma. Tribal members in each district elect the representative from their district.

The change in the Citizen Potawatomi Nation’s basic form of government is designed to accomplish two goals – extend more input into their government’s decisions to tribal members who live outside Oklahoma and take a major step toward a three-branch government with checks and balances.

A district court and Supreme Court, which is the appellate body, form the Citizen Potawatomi Nation judiciary.

Tribal sovereign powers are among the most sacred of all tribal possessions. They originated from the people.

Indian Country is under the territorial control of tribal governments. Article I, Section 8 of the United State Constitution recognizes that Indian tribes, like foreign nations, are sovereigns that exercise varying amounts of control within their territories.

When traveling through Indian Country, one should recognize that he is crossing some of the most consistently inhabited lands in North America.

Please, review the information on our Web site. Visit the Citizen Potawatomi Nation any time you are in central Oklahoma. We hope that your visit will be enjoyable and educational.

Contact the Citizen Potawatomi Nation by mail at 1601 S. Gordon Cooper Dr., Shawnee, OK 74801. The telephone numbers are 405-275-3121 or 800-880-9880.

Citizen Potawatomi Nation