The Constitution of the Osage Nation, prepared by the authorized committee and adopted by the National Council.

The Great and Little Osage having united and become one body politic, under the style and title of the Osage Nation; therefore,

We, the people of the Osage Nation, in National Council assembled, in order to establish justice, insure tranquility, promote the common welfare, and to secure to ourselves and our posterity the blessing of freedom; acknowledging with humility and gratitude the good ness of the Sovereign Ruler of the universe in permitting us so to do, and imploring His aid and guidance in its accomplishment-do ordain and establish this Constitution for the government of the Osage Nation.

ARTICLE I.

Section 2. The boundary of the Osage Nation shall be that described in the treaty of 1876 between the United States and the Great and Little Osages, except that portion purchased by the Kaw.

Sec. 2. The lands of the Osage Nation shall remain common property, until the National Council shall request an allotment of the same, but the improvements made thereon and in possession of the citizens of this Nation are the exclusive and indefeasible property of the citizens respectively who made or may rightfully be in possession of them. Provided: That the citizens of this Nation possessing exclusive and indefeasible right to their improvements, as expressed in this article, shall possess no right or power to dispose of their improvements, in any manner whatever, to the United States, individual states, or to individual citizens thereof; and that, whenever any citizen shall remove with his effects out of the limits of this Nation, and becoem a citizen of any other government, all his rights and privileges as a citizen of this Nation shall cease; Provided, nevertheless, That the National Councal shall have power to readmit by law, to all the rights of citizenship any such persons who may at any time desire to return to the Nation, on memoralizing the National Council for such re-admission.

Moreover, the National Council shall have power to adopt such laws and regulations as it may deem expedient and proper to prevent citizens from monopolizing improvements with the view of speculation.

ARTICLE II.

Section 1. The power of this government shall be divided into three distinct departments, the Legislative, the Executive and the Judicial.

Sec. 2. No person or persons belonging to one of these departments shall exercise any of the powers properly belonging to either of the others, except in the cases hereinafter expressly directed or permitted.

Section 1.

ARTICLE III.

The Legislative power shall be vested in a national Council and the style of their acts shall be be: Be it Enacted by the National Council.

Sec. 2. The National Council shall makek provisions by law, for laying off the Osage Nation into five districts, and, if subsequently it should be deemed expedient, one or two may be added thereto.

Sec. 3. The National Council shall consist of three members from each district, to be chosen by the qualified electors in their respective district, for two years, the elections to be held in the respective districts every two years at such times and places as may be directed by law.

The National Council shall, after the present year, be held annually to be convened on the first Monday in November, at such place as may be designated by the National Council, or, in case of emergency, by the Principal Chief.

Sec. 4. Before the districts shall be laid off, any election which may take place, shall be by general vote of the electors throughout the Nation, for all officers to be elected.

the

The first election for all officers of the government-Chiefs, Executive Council, members of the National Council, Judges and Sheriffsshall be held at Pawhuska, before the rising of this council; and term of service of all officers elected previous to the first Monday in November, 1882, shall be extended to embrace, in addition to the regular constitutional term, the time intervening from their election to the first Monday in November, 1882.

Sec. 5. No person shall be eligible to a seat in the National Council, but an Osage male citizen, who shall have attained to the age of twenty-five years.

Sec. 6. The members of the National Council shall in all cases, except those of felony or breach of the peace, be privileged from arrest, during their attndance at the National Council, in going to, and returning.

Sec. 7. In all elections by the people the electors shall vote vivavoce, All male citizens, who shall have attained to the age of eighteen years, shall be equally entitled to vote at all public elections.

Sec. 8. The national Council shall judge of the qualifications and returns of its own members, determine the rules of its proceedings, punish a member for disorderly behavior, and with the concurrence of twothirds, expel a member; but not a second time for the same offense.

Sec. 9. The National Council, when assembled, shall choose its own officers; a majority shall constitute a quorum to do business, but a smaller number may adjourn from day to day and compel the attendance of absent members, in such manner, and under such penalty as the council may prescribe.

Sec. 10. The members of the National Council shall receive a compensation for their services, which shall be one hundred dollars per annum; Provided, That the same may be increased or diminished by law; but no alteration shall take effect during the period of services of the members of the National Council by whom such alteration may have been made.

Sec. 11. The National Council shall regulate by law, by whom, and in what manner, writs of elections shall be issued to fill the vacancies which may happen in the council thereof.

Sec. 12. Each member of the National Council, before he takes his seat, shall take the following oath or affirmation:

I, A. B., do solemnly swear (or affirm, as the case may be) that I have not obtained my election by bribery treat, or any undue and unlawful means, used by myself, or other, by my desire or approbation for that purpose; that I consider myself : constitutionally qualified as a member of

and that on all questions and measures which may come before me, I will so give my vote, and so conduct myself, as, in my judgment, shall appear most conducive to the interest and prosperity of this Nation, and that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same, and to the utmost of my ability and power, observe, conform to, support and defend the constitution thereof."

Sec. 13. No person who may be convicted of felony shall be eligible to any office or appointment of honor, profit or trust, within this Nation.

Sec. 14. The National Council shall have power to make all laws and regulations which they shall deem necessary and proper for the good of the Nation, which shall not be contrary to this constitution.

Sec. 15. It shall be the duty of the Nationl Council to pass such laws as may be necessary and proper to decide differences by arbitration, to be appointed by the parties who may choose that summary mode of adjustment.

Sec. 16. No power of suspending the laws of this Nation shall be exercised, unless by the National Council or its authority.

Sec. 17. No retrospective laws, nor any law infringing the obligation of contracts, shall be passed.

Sec. 18. The National Council shall have power to make laws for levying and collecting taxes for the purpose of raising revenue.

Sec. 19. All acknowledged treaties shall be the supreme law of the land, and the National Council shall have the sole power of deciding on the constructions of all treaty stipulations.

Sec. 20. The Council shall have the sole power of impeaching. All impeachments shall be tried by the National Council, when sitting for that purpose; the members shall be upon oath or affirmation, and no person shall be convicted without the concurrence of two-thirds of the members present.

Sec. 21. The Principal Chief, Assistant Principal Chief, and all civil officers shall be liable to impeachment for misdemeanor in office; but judgment in such cases shall not extend further than removal from office, and disqualification to hold any office of honor, trust, or profit under the government of this Nation. The party, whether convicted or acquited, shall nevertheless, be liable to indictment, trial, judgment and punishment according to law.

ARTICLE IV.

Section 1. The supreme executive power of this Nation shall be vested in a Principal Chief, who shall be styled "The Principal Chief of the Osage Nation." The Principal Chief shall hold his office for the term of two years, and shall be elected by the qualified electors on the same day; and at the place where they shall respectively vote for members to the National Council. The returns of the elections for Principal Chief shall be sealed up and directed to the President of the National Council, who shall open and publish them in the presence of the Council assembled. The person having the highest number of votes shall be Principal Chief, but if two or more shall be equal and highest in votes, one of them shall be chosen by vote of the National Council; the manner of determining contested elections shall be directed by law.