Does tribal sovereignty supersede federal law?

Tribal sovereignty is a concept that has been around for many centuries and its main purpose is to recognize the inherent rights of Native American tribes to govern themselves, similar to the sovereignty of a nation. With regard to Native American law in California, the answer to whether tribal sovereignty can supersede federal law is more complicated than a simple yes or no. When it comes to the relationship between the federal government and tribal nations, there is a doctrine of federal Indian law that states that tribes have the right to self-governance. This is why tribes are allowed to pass laws and regulations that are specific to the community they govern and that those laws do supersede any federal or state laws. However, the US Supreme Court has also recognized that the federal government retains ultimate authority over tribal nations, so when the two conflict, tribal laws can be overruled by federal laws. For example, if a tribal nation in California enacted laws that contradict the laws of the United States, federal law would take precedence. In summary, tribal sovereignty does exist, but it does not trump federal law. This means that tribal nations can make decisions for their own communities, as long as those decisions do not contradict the laws of the United States.

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Does tribal sovereignty supersede federal law?

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