Legislative Branch

Establishment
The Legislative Branch consists of the Navajo Nation Council, Office of the Speaker, Office of the Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Services, Office of the Auditor General, Navajo Utah Commission on Navajo Government Development, Office of Navajo Government Development, Navajo Election Administration, and Ethics and Rules Office.

Speaker of the Navajo Nation.
The Speaker is elected by the delegates of the Navajo Nation Council and presides over the Legislative Branch. The Speaker serves a two-year term and can only serve two terms. The Speaker of the Council has various responsibilities within the Legislative Branch of the Navajo Nation government.

Responsibilites and authorities of the Speaker, include, but not limited to, presiding over the Navajo Nation Council sessions; calling special sessions of the Navajo Nation Council; signing all resolutions approved by the Navajo Nation Council; serving as the Chairperson of the Intergovernmental Relations Committee; recommending Council Delegates to standing committees subject to confirmation by the full Navajo Nation Council; approving the schedules of all standing committees and their meeting locations; and directing and supervising programs and personnel under the Legislative Branch.

Powers, Responsibilites and Meeting Times of the Navajo Nation Council
The Navajo Nation Council governs through the enactment and amendment of laws; approves expenditures; designs and approves programs to benefit the Navajo people; and represents local interests of the Navajo people regarding matters of local, state and federal governments concerns. The Navajo Nation Council also confirms the appointments of Division Directors as recommended by standing committees and presented by the Navajo Nation President. The Council created and authorized twelve standing committees to direct, monitor and coordinate tasks as assigned.

Duties and responsibilites pf each Council delegate inclide reporting periodically to the people of each chapter from which he/she is elected regarding the business and proceedings of the Navajo Nation Council. The Council Delegate also coordinates with the chapter officials to ensure that the needs of the chapter are addressed. The Navajo Nation Council meets four times per year (January, April, July and October). All regularly scheduled meetings of the Navajo Nation Council are held at the Navajo Nation Council Chambers in Window Rock, Navajo Nation (Arizona).

PROGRAMS WITHIN THE LEGISLATIVE BRANCH

Black Mesa Review Board
The Board provides fair, adequate, and prompt compensation to Navajo families whose economic interests are adversely affected by the coal mining and allied operation of the Peabody Coal Company. Additionally, it makes recommendations to the President of the Navajo Nation, the Navajo Nation Council, and the Peabody Coal Company, concerning the health, welfare and environment of the Navajo People affected by the mining operations.

Board of Elections Supervisors
The Board certifies candidates for regular and special elections, conducts election dispute hearings, assists the election staff with monitoring major elections, certifies newly-elected officials and provides policy direction to the Navajo Election Administration.

Commission on Navajo Government Development
The Commission is a quasi-independent entity established to institute reforms necessary to ensure an accountable and responsible government. It reviews all aspects of the Navajo Nation central government including the laws, rules, regulations, practices, functions, goals and objectives, and how these relate to the chapters and local communities. It also develops recommendations and proposals for alternative forms of chapter government and chapter empowerment.

Ethics and Rules Office
This Office protects the interest of the Navajo Nation by requiring the highest standards of ethical conduct by elected and appointed public officials, officers or representatives of the Navajo Nation, in the performance of the official duties and functions. It pursures these interests through review, recommendation, sponsorship and implementation of projects, legislation, rules and standards.

Navajo Election Administration
The Office implements the Election Code and assists the Board of Election Supervisors in carrying out its authorities, Additionally, it trains and recruits poll officials, registers voters, and conducts and monitors the chapter primary and general elections.

Navajo Nation Labor Commission
The Commission acts as the administrative hearing body to decide the formal complaints filed before it in accordance with the Navajo Preference of Employment Act. It conducts evidentiary hearings, enters final orders, and provides community education.

Navajo Utah Commission
This Commission provides guidance to the development, implementation and operation of the Navajo Utah Office of the Navajo Nation. It provides governmental services to the Navajo People residing in the Utah portion of the Navajo Nation.

Office of the Auditor General.
The Office provides continuing professional audit and management services to the Navajo Nation Government. It conducts financial audits and reviews the financial records of chapters, tribal entities and contractors in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards. Additionally, it conducts performance audit reviews of Navajo Nation governmet programs, departments and divisions, and assists the Office of the Prosecutor in the investigation of possible fraud or misappropiation of assests of the Navajo Nation.

Office of Legislative Counsel
The Office provides legal advice and legislative services to the Navajo Nation Council, standing committees, commissions, task forces, and boards of the Navajo Nation Council, independent of the review of the Department of Justice. Additionally, the Office is in charge of codifying Navajo Nation Laws, rules and regulations.

Office of Legislative Services
The Offices provides a complete and full range of professional, technical and administrative support services to the Navajo Nation Council, standing committees, unstaffed commissions, task forces or boards of the Navajo Nation Counil, council delegates and the chapters of the Navajo Nation.

Office of the Navajo Government Development
The Office carries out the government reform initiatives under the direction of the Commission on the Navajo Government Development. It prepares legislation and policies regarding the Local Governance Act, works with the Executive Branch Division Directors to begin implementing the Local Governance Act, develops public finance systems for governance-certified chapters, develops mechanisms for transferring Navajo Nation programs to governance-certified chapter, drafts alternative forms of governance models, coordinates NAHASDA land use planning for selected chapters, gives LGA trainings to chapters and other governmental entities, develops government reform surveys and questionnaires in order to obtain feedback from the Navajo public on central reform initiatives, and disseminates news-letters and other forms of written materials on LGA and related matters.