Question

Name three authorities to whom tribal representatives answer and briefly describe how each authority holds tribal representatives accountable.

Answer 1

Tribal representatives are held accountable by the United States Congress, the Bureau of Indian Affairs, and their own tribal councils and communities, which balance tribal autonomy with federal laws and policies.

Step-by-step explanation:

Within the United States, tribal representatives answer to multiple authorities that hold them accountable. These include:

• The United States Congress: As the legislative branch of the federal government, Congress has the power to enact laws that directly affect Native American tribes. It holds tribal representatives accountable by shaping policies that impact tribal governance and sovereignty and must try to respect tribes' self-governance while pursuing federal interests.
• The Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA): The BIA is a federal agency that manages many of the interactions between the federal government and Native American tribes. Tribal representatives are accountable to BIA regulations and policies, especially those concerning land held in trust.
• Tribal Councils and Communities: Tribal representatives also answer to their own tribal councils and communities. These local governing bodies and community members exercise oversight over representatives to ensure their actions reflect the will and best interests of the tribe.

These structures provide a system of accountability for tribal representatives, balancing the autonomy of tribal nations with the framework of United States federal laws and policies.

Answer 2

Tribal representatives must answer first and foremost to other tribal members and politicians. Since they are often elected, they must carry out the wishes of tribal members honestly and accurately. Second, tribal representatives are responsible to the media like all United States politicians. The media's job is to bring information to the public, and if the tribal representatives are not performing their duties, they will bring the information to the public for the public to judge. Lastly, tribal representatives must answer to the federal government and the United States Constitution. The main government office to whom they must answer is the Bureau of Indian Affairs.

Step-by-step explanation: