We, the Anishinabeg, the people of Odaawaa-Zaaga’iganiing, the Lac Courte Oreilles Band, will sustain our heritage, preserving our past, strengthening our present, and embracing our future. We will defend our inherent sovereign rights and safeguard Mother Earth. We will provide for the educational, health, social welfare, and economic stability of the present and future generations.
We, the members of the Lac Courte Oreilles Chippewa Band of Lake Superior Indians of Wisconsin, in order to secure the advantages of local self-government for ourselves and our children and to organize for our common welfare, do hereby establish this Constitution and Bylaws.
Chairman. The chairman shall preside over general and special meetings of the Band and all meetings of the Governing Board and perform the usual duties of the presiding officer. He shall carry out the orders of the Governing Board. It shall be the duty of the chairman to countersign all checks drawn against the funds of the Band. the chairman will vote only in the event of a tie, and in cases involving removals, except in case of his own removal, and appointments as provided for in Article III, Section 7 and 8 of the Constitution. He shall act for the Board between meetings when so authorized by appropriate resolution.
Vice-Chairman. The vice-chairman shall assist the chairman when called upon to do so and, in the absence of the chairman, the vice-chairman shall preside. When so presiding he shall have all the rights, privileges and duties of the chairman.
Secretary/Treasurer. The secretary/treasurer shall conduct the correspondence and keep an accurate record of all matters transacted at the Governing Board meetings. He shall keep and maintain the Band membership roll and a current voting list. He shall receive, receipt for, deposit, disburse and account for all funds handled through the Governing Board. All expenditures by the Governing Board shall be in accord with a previously approved budget. An audit of accounts shall be made once a year and at such other times as the Governing Board or the Secretary of the Interior may require. The secretary/treasurer shall be required to give a bond satisfactory to the Governing Board and the Secretary of the Interior.
Board Members. It shall be the duty of the Board members to promote the general welfare to the Band and to carry out the provisions and purposes of this Constitution and Bylaws.
The Governing Board shall cause to be installed, maintained and audited a complete and detailed accounting system.
Each officer and member of the Governing Board when elected shall be duly installed and shall subscribe to an oath of office to support the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution and Bylaws of the Lac Courte Oreilles Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians of Wisconsin.
Time and procedures of the annual meeting of the Governing Board shall be stated in ordinance or resolution form. The Governing Board at its annual meeting shall provide for such schedule and/or procedures for regular meetings as it finds appropriate. Four (4) members of the Governing Board shall constitute a quorum. All decisions shall be made by a majority vote, except as otherwise provided by this Constitution and Bylaws.
Special meetings of the Governing Board shall be called by the chairman, in writing, upon his own initiative or upon a request of four (4) members of the Governing Board.
Time and procedures of general meetings of the Band shall be stated in ordinance or resolution form, provided a general meeting of the Band is scheduled at least once every year.
Special meetings of the Band shall be called by the chairman, in writing, upon his own initiative, upon request of four (4) members of the Governing Board, or upon a petition signed by at least 50 members of the Band 18 years of age and over.
In the absence of the chairman and vice-chairman at a special or general meeting of the Band, there shall be an acting chairman elected by the qualified voters of the Band in attendance to preside at the particular meeting. Any qualified voter or representative of the Federal Government.