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CONSTITUTION

Preamble

We, the members of Indian tribes of the United States of American invoking the Divine guidance of Almighty God in order to secure to ourselves and our descendants the rights and benefits to which we are entitles under the laws of the United States, the several States thereof, and the Territory of Alaska; to enlighten the public toward a better understanding of the Indian race; to preserve Indian cultural values, to seek an equitable adjustment of tribal affairs; to secure and to preserve rights under Indian treaties or agreements with the United States; and otherwise to promote the common welfare of the American Indians do establish this organization and adopt the following Constitution and By-Laws:

ARTICLE I
Name and Headquarters

The name of this organization shall be the National Congress of American Indians with headquarters in Washington, D.C. 

ARTICLE II
Membership

Section 1. Membership in the National Congress of American Indians shall be of three classes
a. Individual Membership. Any person of Indian ancestry may become a member of the National Congress of American Indians.
b. Tribal Membership. Any bonafide Indian tribe is eligible to tribal membership.
c. Chapter Membership. Any organization which shall certify the eligibility of its members for individual membership is eligible to chapter membership.