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Plan of Operation

To review and evaluate all aspects of the government structure of the Navajo Nation, including laws, practices, goals and objectives of the central government as it relates to chapters, etc. and to develop recommendations and proposals for alternative forms of chapter government and empowerment for consideration and possible adoption by the Navajo people through a referendum vote.

Goal Statements

The Office of Navajo Government Development has the following goal statments for FY 2022-23.

Work on the Navajo Government Reform Project.
Draft the Government Reform proposal.
Empower the Navajo people by changing initiative procedures.
Public Engagement regarding the Navajo Government Reform Project.
To develop recommendations and proposals for alternative forms of central and chapter government.

In Resolution CD-68-89, the Navajo Nation Council found that:

Recent controversy involving the leadership of the Navajo Nation has demonstrated that the present Navajo Nation Government structure allows too much centralized power without real checks on the exercise of power. Experience shows that this deficiency in the government structure allows for, invites and has resulted in the abuse of power; and

The Judicial Branch has been reorganized by the Judicial Reform Act of 1985, Resolution CD-94-85, and treating the Judicial Branch as a separate branch of government has proven to be beneficial to the Navajo Nation and has provided stability in the government; and

The lack of definition of power and separation of legislative and executive functions have also allowed the legislative body to overly involve itself in administration of programs thereby demonstrating a need to limit the legislative function to legislation and policy decision making and further limit the executive function to implementation of laws and representation of the Navajo Nation; and

There is an immediate need to reorganize the Navajo Nation government by defining the powers of the legislative and executive branches and impose limitations on exercise of such powers; and

The reorganization of the Navajo Nation Government aa proposed herein is intended to meet the immediate needs of the Navajo People for a more responsible and accountable government and will have no effect on the long term Government Reform Project which will proceed as authorized and directed by the Navajo Tribal Council; and

It is in the best interest of the Navajo Nation that the Navajo Nation Government be reorganized to provide for separation of functions into three branches, and provide for checks and balances between the three branches until the Navajo People decide through the Government Reform Project the form of government they want to be governed by; and

Diné Government Presentation Series

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Ya'at'eeh!

In December of 1989, the Navajo Nation Council by Resolution CD-68-89 separated the Chairman and Vice-Chairman of the Navajo Nation Council into a new branch of government now known as the Executive Branch, comprised of the President and Vice-President of the Navajo Nation. The reorganization of the Navajo Nation Government was intended to be temporary to meet the immediate needs of the Navajo People for a more responsible and accountable government. The Council also recognized the reorganization to provide for separation of functions into three branches, and provide for checks and balances between the three branches until the Navajo People decide through the Government Reform Project the form of government they want to be governed by.

Nelson v. Initiative Committee to Reduce Navajo Nation Council, No. SC-CV-03-10 (2010)

"We previously held in Morgan that “the Council through the recitals of the Resolution CD-68-89 made a solemn compact with the People that the structure will be temporary and left it up to the People to choose the final structure of government.” Affirming the power of the People to choose their form of government, we stated:

The recitals in Resolution CD-68-89 operate as a promise. Through the Title II Amendments, the Council acted to stabilize Navajo Nation government in face of corruption and chartered a course for further reform and enhancements. The Council recognized that the power over the structure of the Navajo government “is ultimately in the hands of the People and it will look to the People to guide it.”