(a) Except as otherwise reserved to the Tribal voting membership by the Constitution, the legislative power of the Tribe is delegated by the Tribal voting membership to the Council, and in the exercise thereof the Council shall have the authority to enact legislation, rules and regulations not inconsistent with the Constitution to further the objectives of the Yurok Tribe as reflected in the Preamble to the Constitution; administer and regulate affairs, persons and transactions within Tribal Territory; enact civil criminal laws; promulgate policies regarding elected Tribal official’s and Tribal employees’ use, possession or sale of illegal drugs, and the unlawful use or abuse of legal drugs and controlled substances; manage Tribal lands and assets and appropriate and authorize the expenditure of funds owned by or available to the Yurok Tribe; charter and regulate corporations and entities of all kinds; provide for the exclusion of persons and/or entities from Tribal affairs and/or Tribal Territory under appropriate circumstances; and obtain and generate revenue for Tribal purposes through taxation and fees upon income, property, transactions and sales within Tribal Territory; provided, however, that laws that affect the fundamental rights of Tribal members, such as taxation of Tribal members and the waiver of claims issue, shall not be effective until approved in a referendum among the Tribal voting membership pursuant to Article XI of the Constitution. Settlement account trust funds, including earned interest, from the Hoopa-Yurok Settlement Act of 1988 shall not be used until the Council has prepared a proposal for its intended use and received a majority vote of approval from the Tribal voting membership.

(b) The Council shall fix and prescribe salaries and allowances for all appointed officials and the employees of the Yurok Tribe.

(c) The Council shall prescribe salaries and allowances, if any, for all elected officials of the Tribe. No setting or adjustment of salaries and allowances shall be done without at least 30 days’ notice that it will be on the Council agenda. No increase in compensation shall be effective until one year from the date of approval has passed.

(d) The Council shall by ordinance provide a system for assuring the reasonable and appropriate access by Tribal members to Tribal records and meetings.

(e) The Council shall by ordinance within 90 days of the election of the first Yurok Tribal Council under the Constitution prescribe enrollment procedures and establish an enrollment committee whose members shall be appointed by the Chairperson with the advice and consent of the Council.

(f) The Council shall by ordinance prescribe election procedures for Tribal elections. The Council shall by ordinance establish an Election Board whose members shall be appointed by the Chairperson with the advice and consent of the Council.

(g) The Council shall act upon all appointments requiring its confirmation within 30 days.

(h) The Council shall have the authority to act on behalf of the Tribe to acquire, lease, assign, and manage all Tribal property, but shall not sell any Tribal land, nor lease Tribal land for a period of 20 years or more, unless approved by a referendum submitted to the voting membership pursuant to Article XI of the Constitution.

(i) The Council shall by ordinance prescribe a drug testing policy for Council members, a conflict of interest policy, and a mandated meeting policy for operation of Council business. These ordinances shall be adopted within one year of installation of the Tribal officials elected in the initial Tribal election.

(j) No legislation, ordinance, or other major action shall be enacted unless approved by at least five members of the Council, including a vote by the Tribal Chairperson if needed.

(k) The Tribal Council district representatives shall conduct quarterly meetings within their respective districts.

(l) Council members shall regularly and punctually attend scheduled meetings, work assignments, conferences, workshops, seminars, or other official Tribal government-related meetings or activities. [Ord. 72, renumbered, 2/11/2021; Ord. 32 § 6303, adopted, 9/5/2013. Formerly 1.15.220.]