About the CBC

The purpose of the Comanche Nation Business Committee organization is to establish and safeguard the rights, powers, and privileges of the Comanche people. The CBC is to improve the economic, moral, educational, and health status of Comanche Nation members and seek the assistance from the United States in carrying out mutual programs to establish theses purposes. In doing so, the CBC is to promote in other ways the common well-being of the tribe and its membership.

Terms

Download The Comanche Nation Constitution here

ARTICLE VI - BUSINESS COMMITTEE

(Pursuant to Amendment X, adopted June 10, 1978, Amendment XIII and Amendment XIV, adopted April 14, 1979, Amendment XX and Amendment XXI, adopted September 29, 1984, Amendment XXIII, adopted June 29, 1985 and Amendment D and Amendment E, adopted February 23, 2002)

Section 1.
The Comanche Business Committee shall be composed of seven (7) members of the Comanche Indian Tribe who are at least twenty-one (21) years of age, and be elected as provided in Article VII of this constitution.

Section 2.
The business committee shall meet on the first Saturday of each month of each year at 10:00 a.m. In case of a legal holiday, the meeting will be held on the following Saturday. Special meetings may be called by the tribal chairman at his discretion; provided that such special meetings do not exceed a total of twelve (12) meetings per calendar year.

Section 3.
Notice of all special meetings of the business committee shall be given by the tribal secretary-treasurer by mailing a letter or postal card to each member of the business committee at least ten days (10) prior to the meeting date, setting forth the date, time, place, and purpose in general terms.

Section 4.
No action shall be taken by the business committee except when a quorum is present. A quorum shall consist of five committeemen.

Section 5.
At the beginning of each meeting of the Comanche Business Committee, the tribal secretary-treasurer, or in his absence the acting secretary as may be appointed by the tribal chairman, shall keep a record in the permanent minute book of the names of those present and those absent. If a tribal committeeman is absent for four (4) consecutive regularly scheduled meetings of the business committee, the tribal chairman shall declare his seat vacant and so notify in writing the tribal committeeman affected and steps shall be taken to fill the vacancy pursuant to Article VIII, Section 1.

Section 6.
All minutes of the business committee shall be published in a manner to be determined by the business committee.

Section 7.
The duties, responsibilities and authorities of the business committee shall include the following:

(a) To establish and maintain the tribal membership roll and to insure that the roll is available for inspection at all reasonable times.

(b) To determine qualifications of candidates nominated for office and to conduct election of tribal officers and business committeemen pursuant to the provisions of Section 2, Article VII, of this constitution.

(c) To execute leases, contracts or permits with regard to property which is owned exclusively or jointly by the Comanche Indian Tribe, but this does not include any jurisdiction over individually-owned land or personal property.

(d) To develop annual budgets for the financing of Comanche tribal operations and to present such budgets to the tribal council for final consideration as to adoption or rejection.

(e) To develop proposals which are in the interest of fulfilling the purpose of the Comanche tribal organization including, but not limited to, programs involving employment, health, education, public relations, social, recreational, and historical activities of the tribe. Such program proposals shall be presented to the tribal council for final consideration as to adoption or rejection.

(f) To implement, administer, and report on progress of programs adopted by the tribal council.

(g) To appoint such subcommittees as are needed to develop the proposals suggested herein or any other worthwhile endeavors, including delegation of such authorities to these subcommittees as in commensurate with their responsibilities.

(h) To secure an audit of each fiscal year's financial activities relating to funds from all sources, to publish the audit of the prior year's funds in the tribal newspaper and two local newspapers at least sixty (60) days prior to each annual meeting, and to prepare for delivery to those attending the annual tribal council meeting a written annual report which shall contain a synopsis of the varied activities of the business committee, the previously published audit and a forecast of activities proposed for the coming year. First audit funds shall come out of any monies available to the tribe for expenditures, including but not limited to the general budget fund or bingo fund. The audit shall be conducted by a reputable firm that is completely disassociated from any tribal member.

(i) Such additional duties and/or responsibilities which may be assigned to the business committee by the tribal council by appropriate resolution approved· in tribal council assembled.

(j) To promulgate and enforce ordinances and codes governing law and order to protect the peace, health, safety, and general welfare on land determined to be within Comanche tribal jurisdiction.

Section 8. The term of office for each officer and committeeman shall be for a period of three (3) years or until a successor is duly elected and installed in Office. Each officer or committeeman shall be eligible to serve two (2) consecutive terms effective upon date of this amendment, present term being counted as one term. At the completion of the second consecutive term of office, an officer or a committeeman shall not be eligible for election to a position on the business committee until a period of three (3) years has elapsed. In addition, an officer or committeeman who has completed two (2) consecutive terms on the business committee shall not be employed within the Comanche tribal governmental system until a period of three (3) years has elapsed. For the purpose of this section, any portion of a term shall be considered as one term.

ARTICLE XVI - OATH OF OFFICE

(Pursuant to Amendment IX, adopted June 10, 1978)
Section 1. Each member of the business committee and each officer or subordinate officer elected or appointed shall take an oath of office and pledge himself to support and defend the constitution of the Comanche Indian Tribe of Oklahoma prior to assuming the duties of his office. The following form of oath shall be given.

"I, _______________ do hereby solemnly affirm before Almighty God and mankind that I will support and defend the constitution of the Comanche Indian Tribe and will carry out faithfully and impartially the duties of my office to the best of my ability and will promote and protect the best interests of the Comanche Indian Tribe in accordance with the tribal constitution."