Contents -- List of Tables and Figures -- Preface -- New to This Edition -- Acknowledgments -- Introduction -- Key Terms -- Selected Readings -- Notes -- I: Foundations of Diné Government and Relations with the United States -- Chapter One: Diné National Government: An Historical Overview -- Outline -- Introduction -- Diné Traditional Political Life -- Diné Government: 1700-1846 -- Diné Governmental Change during the Early American Period: 1846-1921 -- The Birth of Local Government: 1922-1936 -- Navajo Tribal Reorganization: 1936-1938 -- Diné Tribal Government: 1940-1989 -- Democratization of the Navajo Nation: Title II Amendments, 1989-2002 -- Fundamental Law to the Present -- Key Terms -- Selected Readings -- Notes -- Chapter Two: A Nation within a Nation -- Outline -- Introduction -- No Universal Legal Definition -- A Navajo Understanding of What Constitutes a Nation -- The Cultural Side of Navajo National Identity -- The Political Side of Navajo Identity -- The Distinctive Native Nation-Federal Relationship -- Native Nation-State Relations -- Conclusion -- Key Terms -- Selected Readings -- Notes -- Chapter Three: Governmental Structure: Its Form and Function -- Outline -- Introduction -- What Is Government? -- What Are Politics and Political Science? -- Why the Need for Government? -- Who Has the Power in Government? -- The Role of Ideology in American Politics -- Three Principal Functions of Government -- Types of Governing Structures -- What Is Democracy? -- Division of Governing Functions -- Conclusion -- Key Terms -- Selected Readings -- Notes -- Chapter Four: Federal Indian Policy: An Historical Overview -- Outline -- Introduction -- Indigenous Independence: 1492-Colonial Era -- Early United States Independence: 1776-1828 -- Removal-Relocation-Reservation: 1828-1887 -- Allotment and Assimilation: 1887-1921.

Reorganization and Limited Tribal Self-Rule: 1921-1945 -- Termination: 1945-1961 -- Tribal Self-Determination and Self-Governance: 1961-Present -- Conclusion -- Key Terms -- Selected Readings -- Notes -- II: Institutions of Diné Government -- Chapter Five: The Framework of Navajo Government Today -- Outline -- Introduction -- Navajo Nation Code: Principles -- Navajo Nation Code: Authority -- Why Is There a Code and Not a Constitution? -- Limits to Navajo Government Power -- Attempts at Government Reform -- Conclusion -- Key Terms -- Selected Readings -- Notes -- Chapter Six: The Navajo Nation Legislature (The Council) -- Outline -- Introduction -- What Is a Legislature? -- The Council and Its Delegates -- Committees -- How a Resolution Becomes Law -- Factors Influencing Navajo Lawmakers -- Reapportionment-"One-Navajo, One-Vote" -- Conclusion -- Key Terms -- Selected Readings -- Notes -- Chapter Seven: The Navajo Nation Executive (The President and Vice President) -- Outline -- Introduction -- What Is Executive Power? -- Powers of the Navajo Nation President -- Presidential Office and Activities -- Vacancies -- Gifts of Property -- The Executive Bureaucracy -- Conclusion -- Key Terms -- Selected Readings -- Notes -- Chapter Eight: The Navajo Nation Judiciary (The Courts) -- Outline -- Introduction -- Historical Background of the Navajo Nation Courts -- Navajo Nation Court Structure -- Qualifications for Judicial Appointment -- Conclusion -- Key Terms -- Selected Readings -- Notes -- Chapter Nine: Local Governing Institutions -- Outline -- Introduction -- Chapters -- Townships -- District Grazing Committees -- Off-Reservation Land Boards -- Major Irrigation Projects/Farm Boards -- Agency Councils -- Conclusion -- Key Terms -- Selected Readings -- Notes -- III: Political Dynamics of Diné Government.

Chapter Ten: Interest Groups and Diné Politics: From Without and Within -- Outline -- Introduction -- The Navajo Nation "As Subject" to Outside Interest Groups -- The Navajo Nation "As Subject" to Inside Interest Groups -- The Navajo Nation "Acting As" an Interest Group -- Conclusion -- Key Terms -- Selected Readings -- Notes -- Chapter Eleven: The Navajo Nation and the Media -- Outline -- Introduction -- Navajo Nation Media Enterprises -- Conclusion -- Key Terms -- Selected Readings -- Notes -- Chapter Twelve: Diné Voting, Elections, and Campaign Finances -- Outline -- Introduction -- Navajo Voting -- Navajo Election Laws -- Conclusion -- Key Terms -- Selected Readings -- Notes -- Chapter Thirteen: Diné Political Economy -- Outline -- Introduction -- Early Diné Economic Activity -- Navajos Traders and Pawn -- Livestock Reduction -- The Beginnings of Navajo Nationalism -- Contemporary Status of Diné Economic Development -- Conclusion -- Key Terms -- Selected Readings -- Notes -- List of Appendices -- Appendix A -- Timeline of Diné Political History -- Appendix B -- Chairmen (Presidents) of the Navajo Nation -- Appendix C -- Treaty between the United States of America and the Navajo Tribe of Indians (1849) -- Appendix D -- Treaty between the United States of America and the Navajo Tribe of Indians (1868) -- Appendix E -- Rules for the Navajo Tribal Council (1938) -- Appendix F -- Navajo Nation Bill of Rights (1967) -- Appendix G -- Resolution of the Navajo Tribal Council (1989) -- Appendix H -- Resolution of Navajo Nation Council (1998) -- Appendix I -- Navajo Fundamental Law of 2002 -- Appendix J -- Diné Natural Resources Protection Act of 2005 -- Appendix K -- Nelson v. Shirley (2010) -- Index -- About the Author.