American Indian Constitutional Reform and the Rebuilding of Native Nations (Paperback)

by Eric D. Lemont (Editor)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

Since 1975, when the U.S. government adopted a policy of self-determination for American Indian nations, a large number of the 562 federally recognized nations have seized the opportunity to govern themselves and determine their own economic, political, and cultural futures. As a first and crucial step in this process, many nations are revising constitutions originally developed by the U.S. government to create governmental structures more attuned to native people's unique cultural and political values. These new constitutions and the governing institutions they create are fostering greater governmental stability and accountability, increasing citizen support of government, and providing a firmer foundation for economic and political development.

This book brings together for the first time the writings of tribal reform leaders, academics, and legal practitioners to offer a comprehensive overview of American Indian nations' constitutional reform processes and the rebuilding of native nations. The book is organized in three sections. The first part investigates the historical, cultural, economic, and political motivations behind American Indian nations' recent reform efforts. The second part examines the most significant areas of reform, including criteria for tribal membership/citizenship and the reform of governmental institutions. The book concludes with a discussion of how American Indian nations are navigating the process of reform, including overcoming the politics of reform, maximizing citizen participation, and developing short-term and long-term programs of civic education.

About the Author
Eric D. Lemont, a lawyer at Goodwin, Proctor, LLP in Boston, Massachusetts, is a Research Fellow at the Harvard Project on American Indian Economic Development and the founding director of its Initiative on American Indian Constitutional Reform. Since 2001, he and the Harvard Project have sponsored working sessions on constitutional reform at which American Indian constitutional reform leaders from across the United States have gathered to rethink strategies for strengthening American Indian constitutions and constitution-making processes.

Product Details

• Paperback: 360 pages
• Publisher: University of Texas Press (June 1, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0292713177
• ISBN-13: 978-0292713178
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 5.9 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,023,314 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A top pick for college-level collections strong in Native history and culture and American politics and law, September 9, 2006

By	Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

Since 1975 when the US government fostered a policy of self-determination for Native nations, many of the 500+ federally recognized nations have governed themselves, with some revision constitutions originally developed by the US government to hone them to Native interests. In turn these new constitutions are creating greater stability and accountability within the Native nations. The writings of tribal reform leaders, academics and lawyers come together for the first time under one cover in American Indian Constitutional Reform And The Rebuilding Of Native Nations, a top pick for college-level collections strong in Native history and culture and American politics and law.