The legislative branch consists of a 17-member 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 reservation boundaries and two councilors elected to represent citizens who live outside the boundaries. The 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 Council meeting, regularly held at 6 p.m. on the second Monday of each month.
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.
