The legislative branch consists of a 17-member Tribal Council. The council is elected by popular vote to four-year terms. There are 15 councilors elected to represent the districts within the Cherokee Nation jurisdictional boundaries and two councilors elected to represent citizens who live outside the boundaries. The Tribal Council establishes laws necessary and proper for the good of the Cherokee Nation and conducts other business to further the interests of the Cherokee Nation and its citizens. A speaker elected by other council members presides over the council.
Business is discussed through public committee meetings and legislation is passed or failed at the monthly general Tribal Council meeting, regularly held at 6 p.m. on the first Monday after the second Saturday.For more information please visit the Legislative Research Center.
Live video streams and video archives of Committee and Council meetings are available on the Cherokee Nation YouTube channel. Archived videos are also available on the Legislative Research Center.
