Native American tribes and nations are one of the four sovereigns recognized by the United States Constitution, along with the federal government, states, and foreign countries. Unless Congress expressly acts otherwise, the 573 federally recognized tribes in the United States retain their inherent powers of self-government. They are free “to make their own laws and be ruled by them,” in the words of the U.S. Supreme Court. This session will explore the role of Indian tribes, what it means to be a tribal citizen, and the growing importance of tribally owned and operated businesses to the U.S. economy. undefined