Coyote Commentary from Four Bears Segment--Continued

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Increase of two (2) Council Positions of the Tribal Business Council

As I reported in previous Four Bears News, the Tribe is still awaiting the Secretarial Election for the vote of the people on the issue of the increase in the Council positions and the At Large Vote on the Secretary and Treasurer Officers of the Tribal Business Council.

"The Proposed Constitutional Amendment pending is pursuant to Tribal Resolution #01-215-MWJR; which states in part:

"WHEREAS,  The Tribal Business Council has determined that, as the elected governing body of the Three Affiliated Tribes, it could provide more extensive representation of and improved services to the membership of the Tribes through an increase in the membership of the  Council from seven (7) to nine (9) members, which increase would be realized by providing for the election for the positions of Council Secretary and Treasurer at large by all eligible Tribal voters; and

WHEREAS, The Tribal Business Council has reviewed and approved the language of the amendment set forth in the attached document titled "Proposed Amendment of Constitution and Bylaws of the Three Affiliated Tribes Relating to Increase in Membership of Tribal Business Council from Seven (7) to Nine (9) Members" and is intent on the Secretary of the Interior calling a Secretarial Election on the proposed Constitutional amendment at the earliest practicable time;"

If this is approved by majority vote of the enrolled membership by Secretarial Election. Not only will the Chairman be voted on by an at large vote of all eligible Tribal voters, for the first time in history the Treasurer and Secretary will be also.
I believe that this would be a positive change. You would not have "major" decisions being made by formal council votes of: 3 for 2 opposed 2 abstains or 3 for 1 opposed 3 abstains or even worse 3 for 0 opposed 4 abstains.

Final note: Who ever came up with the abstain vote? and why it was created?, It must have a purpose, I personally have used it when I did not have enough information to make an informed decision, however not to allow something to pass or not pass.