Indian Reorganization Act Law and Legal Definition
Indian Reorganization Act of 1934 is a federal law that secured certain rights to Native Americans.
The purpose of the act is to:
a. conserve and develop Indian lands and resources;
b. extend to Indians the right to form business and other organizations;
c. establish a credit system for Indians;
d. grant certain rights of home rule to Indians; and
e. provide for vocational education for Indians
Although the act did not require tribes to adopt a constitution, if the tribe chose to do so, the constitution had to:
a. allow the tribal council to employ legal counsel;
b. prohibit the tribal council from engaging any land transitions without majority approval of the tribe; and
c. authorize the tribal council to negotiate with the federal, state, and local governments.
