Key Takeaways
- Freedom rankings help develop solutions to the most pressing problems faced by indigenous economies.
- Institutions under tribal control include the rule of law, secure property rights, and institutions like tribal courts.
- Economic freedom is a combination of the protection of private property rights and the freedom to exercise those rights, so long as they do not interfere with other people’s rights.
- Tribal law refers to laws made by American Indian tribes to govern themselves.
- Tribal law consists of constitutions, referenda, and legislation made by tribal councils, rulings by tribal courts, and customary laws upheld by traditional authorities.
- There is a great deal of variation in tribal law across tribes.
- State and federal governments can pass legislation that preempts tribal law.
- Economic areas under control of tribes includes land, many aspects of the environment, tribal courts, traffic, some minor crimes, business, and casinos.
- Tribal governments are not able to levy property taxes on trust or fee-simple land.