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The purpose of this chapter is to maintain and protect the public trust of the Tribe by requiring elected officials to adhere to the highest ethical obligations expected of elected officials and also setting forth consequences for violating the public trust of the Tribe. The specific purposes of this chapter, which are not meant to describe violations, include, but are not limited to, the following:

(a) To set forth high ethical standards by which Council members of the Tribe will conduct themselves in a manner that protects, promotes, and strengthens the inherent sovereignty of the Tribe;

(b) To set forth the high ethical standards of honesty, integrity, fairness, and impartiality for elected officials of the Tribe;

(c) To ensure, consistent with the traditions and cultural values of the Tribe, that Council members act in accordance with the Preamble of the Constitution, which states “This whole lands, this Yurok country, stayed in balance, kept that way by our good stewardship, hard work, wise laws, and constant prayers to the creator”;

(d) To guide elected officials of the Tribe to avoid any actions that would adversely impact the Tribe;

(e) To ensure that elected officials of the Tribe act in the best interests of the Tribe and not in the personal interests of elected officials;

(f) To foster the free and good government of the Tribe by assisting elected officials of the Tribe in avoiding conflicts between personal interests and public responsibility;

(g) To protect the interests of the Tribe by providing for fair, honest, and efficient Tribal government;

(h) To promote and strengthen the faith and confidence of Tribal members in the Tribal government;

(i) To ensure that elected officials put forth an honest effort in the performance of governmental duties;

(j) To distinguish between issues of ethical concerns by elected officials, and minor and inconsequential conflicts that are unavoidable by elected officials;

(k) To ensure that elected officials, in addition to this chapter, adhere to all policies and ordinances prescribed for elected Tribal officials, including but not necessarily limited to the Council vehicle use policy, Council drug testing policy, mandatory meeting policy, credit card use policy, agenda item submission policy, conflict of interest policy, and computer equipment use policy;

(l) To provide clarification and notification concerning what may constitute a “for cause” impeachable offense as defined by the Constitution Article X, Section 1, which states: “Any elected official of the Yurok Tribe shall be subject to recall for willful neglect of duty, corruption in office, habitual drunkenness or use of illegal drugs, incompetency, incapability of performing his/her duties or committing any offense involving moral turpitude, or conduct seriously detrimental to the sovereignty or traditions of the Yurok Tribe while in office”;

(m) To ensure that the public trust of the Tribe is at all times maintained and respected by elected officials of the Tribe. [Ord. 72, amended, 2/11/2021; Ord. 32 § 6003, adopted, 9/5/2013.]