ETHICS AND RULES COMMITTEE

Francis Redhouse, Chairperson, Northern Agency
Roscoe D. Smith, Vice-Chairperson, Fort Defiance Agency
Joe M. Lee, Member, Eastern Agency
Preston McCabe, Sr., Member, Chinle Agency
Jack Colorado, Member, Western Agency
Tim Goodluck, Member, Fort Defiance Agency
Herman Daniels, Sr., Member, Western Agency
Harry J. Willeto, Eastern Agency

LEGISLATIVE PURPOSE

Pursuant to Title Two, Section 3742 (A) Purpose:  Where government is founded upon the consent of the governed, the people are entitled to have complete confidence in the loyalty and integrity of their government.  The purpose of the Navajo Nation Ethics in Government Law, therefore, is to require accountability to the people of the Navajo Nation by their elected, appointed and assigned public officials and employees in exercising the authority vested or to be vested with them as a matter of public trust, by:

Establishing and requiring adherence to standards of conduct to avoid such conflicts of interest as the use of public offices, employment or property for private gain, the granting and exchange of favored treatment to persons, businesses or organizations; and the conduct of activities by such officials and employees which permits opportunities for private gain or advantage to influence government decisions;

Requiring public officials and employees to abstain from using any function of their office or duties in a manner which could place, or appear to place, their personal economic or special interests before the interests of the general public.

INTENT

It is the intention of the Navajo Nation Council that the provisions of this Navajo Nation Ethics in Government Law be construed and applied in each instance, so as to accomplish its purposes of protecting the Navajo People from government decisions and actions resulting from, or affected by, undue influences or conflicts of interest.

ETHICS AND RULES COMMITTEE

On January 25, 1983 the Navajo Tribal Council established the Ethics and Rules Committee of the Navajo Tribal Council. Presently, the Committee is comprised of eight (8) members who are selected by the Speaker of the Navajo Nation Council and confirmed by the Navajo Nation Council. It is the responsibility of the Committee through the implementation of Administrative hearings to protect the interests of the people of the Navajo Nation by requiring the highest standards of ethical conduct by elected officials and employees of the Navajo Nation.