NATIONAL CONVENTIONS AND GOVERNMENT
The National Convetion is the supreme tradition and culture formulating, lawmaking and elective authority of the Constitutional Cherokee subject to the provisions of the HANDBOOK and Constitution of the Constitutional Cherokee
.1 The National convention shall be presided over by the National Council of Chiefs, jointly and severally.
.2 The National Convention shall elect its other officers and organize itself for the transaction of its buiness according to its wisdom and pleasure.
.3 The National Convention shall convene for the conduct of business every seventh (7th) year.
MEMBERSHIP
The national Convention shall be composed of Adawehi and enrolled members by blood delegates in equal numbers from each organized and fully recognized functiong regional chapter, the regional chiefs serving in the regional chapters, and the remaining delegates as elected by the regional conventions in the year prior to the National Convention; all national chiefs both serving and retired, the national ambassadors and all regional ambassadors both serving and retired, and all beloved women shall be ex officio delegates; all chairs of any standing national council, committee, or board are ex officio delegates as well.
.1 Each regional chapter shall be entitled to representation of delegates based on enrolled members by blood within that chapter. The ratio of delegates to enrolled members is to be determined by the National Advisory Council in joint session with the National Chiefs for the first convention; ratios thereafter are to be set by the National Convention for the next Convention and announced prior to the adjournment of the current National Convention wherein those ratios are set.
.2 The National Advisory Council in joint session with all regional chiefs and the National Council of Chiefs, shall ratify the delegates elected to the National Convention. Any deemed unfit to serve for any reason or cause shall be replaced by that regional chapter's alternate delegate.
.3 the right of a delegate elect to the General Convention to represent the regional chapter electing her shall be vacated in case she shall remove her membership to some community chapter on another regional chapter prior to the convening of the General Convention.
THE TIME AND PLACE OF THE NATIONAL CONVENTION
The National Convention shall meet prior to the beginning of the traditional Cherokee New year (in the autumn) every seven (7) years, at such time and place as shall be determined by a National Convention Commission composed of the National Council of Chiefs, the National Advisory Council, and an equal number of persons chosen from each of the active and organized regional chapters. The National Chiefs and said commission shall also have power, in case of an emergency, to change the time and place of the meeting of the National Convention.
.1 The National Convention shall open on Saturday with a full day of devotional and inspirational services and meals followed by a National Stomp dance. Provision shall be made for the orderly and careful transaction of business, and for such services at the close of the session as it may order. The National Convention shall fix the time at which its session shall adjourn.
SPECIAL SESSIONS
The National Council of Chiefs or a majority thereof, by and with the written consent of 2/3rds of all the regional chapter chiefs, shall have power to call a special session of the Nationa Convention in case of an emergency, the time and place thereof to be determined by the national Council of Chiefs and a commission chosen by the National Council of Chiefs.
.1 in case of a special session of the National Convention, the delegates and the alternates to the last preceding national Convention if still qualified, or their duly elected and qualified successors, shall serve as delegates and alternates to the special session.
PREAMBLE
National COUNCIL
