On June 10, 2010, the Gila River Indian Community (GRIC) Legislative and Government & Management Standing Committees met jointly with the Tribal Constitution Reform Project (TCRP) Task Force regarding the proposed veto power for the Executive Branch of the GRIC Tribal Government. After hearing from the GRIC Law Office, TCRP Task Force and Governor Rhodes, the two Committees motioned and approved to forward the final draft of the GRIC Constitution (dated January 26, 2010) to the full Community Council with a recommendation that a special Community Council meeting be held to review the final draft.
Earlier, in a letter dated June 8, 2010, the TCRP Task Force informed the two GRIC Standing Committees that as a body they take no position on whether veto power or any other recommendations raised by a single person or Governor Rhodes should be included in the draft document. Instead, the TCRP Task Force contends that the mandate under GRIC Resolution GR53-06 has been fulfilled; the people of the GRIC have spoken; the final draft GRIC Constitution should be taken to the public vote. Furthermore, the executive veto power concept lacked support throughout the Districts, with the exception of the Phoenix Urban Members Association.
Since the two Standing Committees agreed in the necessity of an entire Community Council review, they decided to wait until the current Community Council vacant seat in District 7, is filled. The special Community Council Election to fill this seat will take place on July 30, 2010, and the District 7 Community Council Representative should take the Oath of Office on September 1, 2010, if everything goes as planned by the GRIC Election Board. Following this activity the Special Community Council meeting regarding the final draft Constitution will very likely occur soon after this special election.
The TCRP Task Force will be going back out to the Districts in the upcoming months to update GRIC membership on the final draft Constitution dated January 26, 2010. The TCRP Task Force hopes the action taken by the two Committees sends a message of encouragement to the Community membership to stay involved and informed of the upcoming activity to be held in the Districts, the BIA Secretarial Election process to be scheduled by the BIA.
For additional information on the TCRP please contact your District TCRP Task Force Representative or the TCRP staff: Gerald Calnimptewa at (520) 562-9757 This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
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