court of competent jurisdiction shall be considered eligible for any position on the General Council or any appointment by that body until either pardoned or five years have passed since release from confinement. In the event any question should arise regarding the qualifications of any band representative, candidate for office or appointee, the decision of the General Council shall be final.

Section 4. All band representatives of the General Council shall be elected to serve a term of four years or until their successors have been duly elected and installed. All band representatives and the officers serving on the General Council may succeed themselves in office.

Section 5. All members of the General Council, appointees and employees of the Nation shall be paid in accordance with a duly adopted ordinance of the General Council. Unless otherwise provided for in this constitution, no enactment of the General Council shall be considered valid unless supported by a majority of those voting in a legal meeting.

ARTICLE V - POWERS OF THE GENERAL COUNCIL

The General Council of the Seminole Nation of Oklahoma, subject to any restric­tions contained in the Constitution and laws of the United States, shall have the power to speak or act on behalf of the Nation in all matters in which the Nation is empowered to act. The General Council shall exercise, subject further to any limitations imposed by this constitution, the following powers:

1. To promote public health, education and charity and such other services that may contribute to the social and economic advancement of the members of the Seminole Nation of Oklahoma.

2. To negotiate with Federal, State and local governments and others on behalf of the Nation.

3. To prevent the sale, disposition, lease or encumbrance of any land or interest in land belonging to the Seminole Nation of Oklahoma or reserved for the benefit of such Nation.

4. To manage and lease or otherwise deal with Tribal lands and communal resources in accordance with law.

5. To prepare the annual budget request and supplements thereto, to administer any funds within the control of the Nation and to make expenditures from available funds for Tribal purposes. All expenditures of Tribal funds within the purview of this paragraph shall be authorized by resolution duly enacted by the General Council and the amounts so expended shall be a matter of public record open to the members of the Nation at all reasonable times.

6. To enter into any contract in behalf of the Nation in conjunction with any activity that will further the well-being of the members of the Nation.

7. To employ legal counsel.

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