THE CONSTITUTION OF THE MUSKOGEE (CREEK) NATION.
Source: The Oklahoma Red Book By Oklahoma, Oklahoma, Seth K Corden, William B Richards
Compiled by Seth K Corden, Published by s.n., 1912
Submitted by Barb Ziegenmeyer
SUMMARY.
Art. I. Legislative Department.
Art. II. Executive Department.
Art. III. Judicial Department.
Art. IV. Judicial and Militia.
Art. V. Treasurer.
Art. VI. interpreter.
Art. VII. Impeachment Provision.
Art. VIII. Legislative Restrictions.
Art. IX. Personal Rights.
Art. X. Treaty Provisions.
In order to form a perfect union, establish justice, and secure to ourselves, and our children, the blessings of
freedom, we, the people of Muskogee Nation, do adopt the following Constitution:
Sec. 1. The law-making power of this Nation shall be lodged in a Council, which shall consist of two houses: The
House of Kings and The House of Warriors.
Sec. 2. The House of Kings shall be composed of one representative from each town. Each member shall be elected
by the vote of the town which he represents, and shall hold his office for four years.
Sec. 3. The House of Warriors shall consist of one representative from each town, and an additional representative
for every two hundred persons belonging to the town. Each member shall be elected by the vote of the town which
he represents, and shall hold his office for four years.
Sec. 4. The members of the Council shall receive such compensation out of the National Treasury as shall be provided
for by law.
Sec. 5. The majority of the members of each house shall constitute a quorum; but a less number may adjourn from
day to day and compel the presence of absentees.
Sec. 6. Each house shall judge of the returns and qualifications of its members, impeach a member for disorderly
conduct, and, by the concurrence of two-thirds of both houses, expel a member. Neither house shall adjourn for
a longer period than two days without the consent of both houses.
The House of Kings shall elect its own President, and the House of Warriors shall elect its own Speaker.
Sec. 8. Each house shall choose its own secretary, whose pay shall be provided by law, and whose term of office
shall continue at the discretion
of the house which he serves.
Sec. 9. No person shall become a member of either house, who shall not be an acknowledged citizen and who shall
not have attained the age
of twenty-two years.
Sec. 10. The style of the action of the Council shall be: "Be it Enacted by the National Council of the Muskogee
Nation."
Sec. 1. There shall be a Principal Chief, to be styled the "Principal Chief of the Muskogee Nation,"
who shall be elected for the term of four years, by a majority of the votes of the male citizens of the Muskogee
Nation who shall have attained the age of eighteen years. There shall also be a Second Chief, who shall be chosen
for the same terms. in the same manner as that prescribed for the election of the Principal Chief, and in case
of death, resignation, or removal from office of the Principal Chief, he shall perform all the duties of that officer.
Sec. 2. No person shall be eligible to the office of Principal Chief or Second Chief of the Muskogee Nation, who
is not a recognized citizen of the same and who shall not have attained the age of thirty years.
Sec. 3. The principal Chief is hereby invested with the reprieving and pardoning power. He shall see that all the
laws of this Nation are faithfully executed and enforced: shall make the annual report to the National Council
of the condition of affairs in the Nation; and shall recommend such measures as he may deem necessary for the welfare
of the Nation.
Sec. 4. Whenever any bill or measure shall pass both houses, it shall be submitted to the Principal Chief for his
approval or rejection. If he shall approve it, it shall become a law. If he shall object to it, he shall, within
five days, return it, accompanied by his objections, to the house in which it originated; and if not so returned
within five (5) days, it shall become a law. fl, after a bill or measure has been vetoed by the Principal Chief,
it shall again be submitted to the two houses, and receive a favorable vote of two-thirds of both houses, it shall
become a law.
Sec. 5. Whenever any bill or measure shall pass both houses and be submitted to the Principal Chief for his approval
or rejection, within five days before an adjournment, he shall be allowed the first three days of the next Council
within which to return the same.
Sec. 6. The Principal Chief shall be allowed to select a Private Secretary, who shall be compensated out of the
National Treasury as provided by law.
Sec. 1. The Supreme law defining power in this Nation shall be lodged in a High Court, to be composed of five (5)
competent, recognized citizens of the Muskogee Nation who shall have attained the age of twenty-five (25) years.
They shall be chosen by the National Council for the term of four years, and shall be paid as provided for by law.
Sec. 2. This court shall meet on the first Monday in October in each year, and shall have the power to try all
cases where the issue is for more than one hundred ($100) dollars. Three members shall constitute a quorum.
Sec. 1. The Muskogee Nation shall be divided into six (6) districts, and each district shall
be furnished with a judge, a prosecuting attorney and a company of light horsemen.
Sec. 2. The judge shall be chosen by the National Council for the term of two years. He shall try all cases, civil
and criminal, where the issue does not exceed one hundred ($100) dollars. He shall have the right to summon twenty-four
disinterested men, out of which number there shall be selected, in criminal cases twelve, and in civil cases nine,
who
shall sit as jurors. He shall also be allowed a clerk whose pay shall be
provided for by law. The judge's pay shall be provided for by law.
Sec. 3. Any person falling to obey a summons to serve as juror, without good reason for such failure, shall be
fined in the sum of five ($5.00) dollars. Each juror whilst in service shall receive one dollar per day.
Sec. 4. The prosecuting attorney shall be appointed by the Principal Chief, by and with consent of the National
Council. lt shall be his duty .to indict and prosecute all offenders against the laws of his district. For each
convict he shall be pail the sum of twenty-five ($25.00 dollars.
Sec. 5. The Light Horse Company shall consist of a captain and four privates, who shall be elected for a term of
two years by the vote of the district, and shall be subservient to the orders of the judge. Their compensation
shall be provided for by law.
Sec. 1. There shall be a National Treasurer, who shall be selected by the National Council for the term of four
years. His duty shall be to receive and receipt for all National funds, and to disburse the same as shall be provided
for by law. He shall report the condition of the National finances to the National Council at least once every
year. He shall be required to bond himself in a bond of five thousand " dollars, with good security, for the
faithful performance of his duty. He shall be paid as provided for by law.
Sec. 2. No moneys shall be drawn from the National Treasury, except to carry out appropriations made by the National
Council, and when such appropriation is so made, the Principal Chief shall issue a draft upon the treasury to meet
the same.
Sec. 1. There shall be a National interpreter, who shall be elected by the National Council for the term of four
years, and who shall be compensated according to provisions of law.
Sec. 1. All officers of this Government shall be liable to impeachment, trial and removal from office for neglect
of duty.
Sec. 2. All bills of impeachment shall originate in the House of Warriors.
Sec. 1. No laws impairing contracts shall be passed.
Sec. 2. No laws taking effect upon things that occurred before the enactment of the law shall be passed.
Sec. 1. All cases shall be tried according to the provisions of the respective laws under which they originated.
Sec. 2. All persons shall be allowed the right of counsel.
Sec. 1. All treaties shall be made by delegates, duly recommended by the Principal Chief, and approved by the National
Council, and such treaties shall be subject to the ratification of the National Council.
Sec. 2. The treaties shall be the supreme law of the land.
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