Section MEM.01.03

(a) The Membership Committee shall be appointed by the Tribal Council for a period of two years. The Committee shall have only advisory powers and no member shall be at the same time a member of the Council. The recommendations of the Committee shall be made in writing and signed by at least four members of the Committee.

(b) Four terms of the Membership Committee shall run concurrently with the term of the Tribal President. The other three terms of the Membership Committee shall run for two years, but shall expire on the eve of the October election in years that the Tribal President is not up for Election.

(1) Section MEM.01.03(b) is intended to implement staggered terms for the Membership Committee. Upon the adoption of the 2001 amendment and effective March 2001, the three incumbent Committee Members' terms shall expire on the eve of the October 2001 election, and on the eve of every other October election thereafter. As of March 20, 2001, the four other Committee Members' terms shall expire on the eve of the October 2002 election, and on the eve of every other October election thereafter.

(c) The Stockbridge-Munsee Community recognizes that elders can provide valuable input to the Membership Committee. Therefore, at least two of the Committee Members shall be elders (at least 55 years old), provided that at least two elders seek appointment to the Membership Committee. If elders do not seek appointment, the Membership Committee shall be appointed in accordance with Section MEM.01.03(b), and without regard to elder status.

(1) The elder terms shall coincide with Section MEM.01.03(b). One elder appointment shall expire on the eve of the October 2001 election, and on the eve of every other October election thereafter. The other elder appointment shall expire on the eve of the October 2002 election, and on the eve of every other October election thereafter.

(d) Tribal Council, by motion at a regularly scheduled Council meeting, reserves the right to remove a Membership Committee member for cause.