Today's Cherokee Tribe is made up of 3 different groups that all descend from the same common tribe that formed in the late 1800s. The Cherokee community has more than 300,000 tribal members, making it the largest of the 567 federally recognized tribes in the United States. Over 800,000 people claim Cherokee ancestry in the United States. Since Oklahoma has the largest census of acclaimed Cherokee tribal members, members reside in 14 counties in that state. The economic impact of tribes in Oklahoma and neighboring northeastern states is estimated at $1.5 billion. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get Original Essay There are over 70,000 Cherokees residing in a 7,000 square mile area, which is a federally recognized nation covering most of northeastern Oklahoma. The Cherokee Nation has both the right and responsibility to exercise control and development over tribal assets, including more than 66,000 acres of land and 96 miles of the Arkansas Riverbed. Tribal citizenship is granted if a lineal descendant can be proven through birth and death records and no blood quantum is used. Today, all three federally recognized tribes are viewed by the BIA as separate nations, but in reality they are linked by family ties that date back thousands of years. All three groups have made great strides in the construction industry and businesses that employ tribal members within each tribal jurisdiction. In 2012, leaders from all three tribes met to revive a guilt that had been lost many years ago. Although this was a historic moment, there is still a long way to go to mend the broken bonds. The Cherokee Nation has legislative, executive, and judicial branches with executive power coming from the Chief Chief, legislative power in the Tribal Council, and judicial power in the Tribal Supreme Court. The tribe's democratically elected government is led by a principal chief, a deputy chief, and a tribal council. Bill John Baker was installed as Principal Chief for his first four-year term on November 6, 2011, after a special election in which Cherokee Freedmen were able to vote while questions regarding their membership in the nation are resolved. Cherokee Nation Historic The Tahlequah Courthouse, built in 1849, is the oldest existing public building in the state of Oklahoma. Two members of the tribal council represent the broad spectrum of citizenship, meaning those who live outside the tribe's 14-county jurisdictional area in northeastern Oklahoma. There have been eleven satellite communities organized by the tribe in areas of high Cherokee population density. These communities are made up of the majority of registered citizens of the Cherokee Nation. These communities represent a way for enrolled Cherokee citizens to connect with Cherokee heritage and culture and to be more politically engaged. These communities are located in Arizona, California, Colorado, New Mexico, Texas, Florida and central Oklahoma. Please note: this is just an example. Get a custom paper from our expert writers now. Get a Custom Essay The executive branch is also composed of five independent agencies that exercise power directly from the control of the Principal Chief: Tax Commission, Election Commission, Environmental Protection Commission, Gaming Commission, and The Cherokee Phoenix.