§ 477. — Incorporation of Indian tribes; charter; ratification by election.
[Laws in effect as of January 24, 2002]
[Document not affected by Public Laws enacted between
January 24, 2002 and December 19, 2002]
[CITE: 25USC477]
TITLE 25--INDIANS
CHAPTER 14--MISCELLANEOUS
SUBCHAPTER V--PROTECTION OF INDIANS AND CONSERVATION OF RESOURCES
Sec. 477. Incorporation of Indian tribes; charter; ratification
by election
The Secretary of the Interior may, upon petition by any tribe, issue
a charter of incorporation to such tribe: Provided, That such charter
shall not become operative until ratified by the governing body of such
tribe. Such charter may convey to the incorporated tribe the power to
purchase, take by gift, or bequest, or otherwise, own, hold, manage,
operate, and dispose of property of every description, real and
personal, including the power to purchase restricted Indian lands and to
issue in exchange therefor interests in corporate property, and such
further powers as may be incidental to the conduct of corporate
business, not inconsistent with law; but no authority shall be granted
to sell, mortgage, or lease for a period exceeding twenty-five years any
trust or restricted lands included in the limits of the reservation. Any
charter so issued shall not be revoked or surrendered except by Act of
Congress.
(June 18, 1934, ch. 576, Sec. 17, 48 Stat. 988; Pub. L. 101-301,
Sec. 3(c), May 24, 1990, 104 Stat. 207.)
Amendments
1990--Pub. L. 101-301 substituted ``by any tribe'' for ``by at least
one-third of the adult Indians'', ``by the governing body of such
tribe'' for ``at a special election by a majority vote of the adult
Indians living on the reservation'', and ``twenty-five years any trust
or restricted lands'' for ``ten years any of the land''.
Section Referred to in Other Sections
This section is referred to in sections 396b, 473, 473a, 478-1,
713b, 2108 of this title.
