Article VI. Executive Section 1. The executive power shall be vested in a Principal Chief, who shall be styled “The Principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation.” The Principal Chief shall hold his office for the term of four (4) years; and shall be elected by the qualified voters on the same day and in the same manner, except as otherwise provided by this Constitution, as they shall respectively vote for members of the Council for that particular year, provided, the Principal Chief in office when this Constitution is ratified shall continue in office until his successor is duly elected in the 1979 election and installed.Section 3. The qualified electors shall elect a Deputy Principal Chief, who shall possess the same qualifications as the Principal Chief, for a term of four (4) years at the same time and in the same manner as herin provided for the election of the Principal Chief, provided, that the initial election of the Deputy Principal Chief shall take place in conjunction with with the first Council election pursuant to this Constitution and in accordance with Section 1 of this Article. Section 4. In case of the absence of the Principal Chief from office due to his death, resignation, removal or inability to discharge the powers and duties of the said office, the same shall devolve upon the Deputy Principal Chief for the remaining portion of the four (4) year term to which the Principal Chief has been elected. In case of disability, such powers shall continue during the term of such disability. Vacancies in the office of the Deputy Principal Chief shall be filled by the Council.THIS PHOTO WAS TAKEN ON INAUGURATION DAY.IT SHOWS THE TRIBAL COUNCILORS [LEGISLATIVE BRANCH] , PRINCIPAL CHIEF, AND DEPUTY CHIEF WHO HAD JUST TAKEN THEIR OATH OF OFFICE.
“OATH OF OFFICE”
The following is the Oath of Office found in the Constitution of the Cherokee Nation
of Oklahoma as ratified by the Cherokee people on June 26, 1976. All officers
elected or appointed shall, before entering upon the duties of their respective offices,
take and subscribe to the following oath or affirmation:
“I DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR, OR AFFIRM, THAT I WILL FAITHFULLY
EXECUTE THE DUTIES OF [Office named] OF THE CHEROKEE NATION,
AND WILL, TO THE BEST OF MY ABILITY, PRESERVE, PROTECT AND
DEFEND THE CONSTITUTIONS OF THE CHEROKEE NATION, AND
THE UNITED STATES O F AMERICA. I SWEAR OR AFFIRM FURTHER,
THAT I WILL DO EVERYTHING WITHIN MY POWER TO PROMOTE THE
CULTURE, HERITAGE AND TRADITIONS OF THE CHEROKEE NATION.”
Principal Chief Joe Byrd and Deputy Chief Garland Eagle
Holding Another Press Conference (sometime in August)
HOW TO CONTACT YOUR CHIEF OR DEPUTY CHIEF
All elected Cherokee Nation officials may be contacted (or messages left) through the:
Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma, P.O. Box 948, Tahlequah, OK 74465-09448.
A toll free number (works only in Oklahoma) is: 800-256-0671, or call 918-456-0671. Fax number is: 918-456-6485.
Principal Chief Joe Byrd
Route 6, Box 191-2
Tahlequah, OK 74464
Phone: 918-456-0628 or 918-456-8244
Deputy Chief Garland Eagle
Route 5, Box 4250
Stilwell, OK 74960
Phone: 918-696-5765
