The Third Sovereign: Indian Gaming as a Teaching Case in Intergovernmental Relations and Public Administration

Abstract

Native American tribal government is the often-overlooked third sovereign in the American political system. Tribal governments have a unique relationship with federal, state, and local governments, and a special status under federal law, including a degree of sovereignty. Although there are more than 550 federally recognized tribes in the United States, topics related to tribal administration often are overlooked in public administration curricula. Perhaps the foremost policy issue facing tribal governments today is Indian gaming, because many tribes own and operate casinos and make decisions about revenue distribution. Tribal gaming has become a multi-billion-dollar industry, fundamentally changing how tribal governments operate and interact with nontribal governments. This article provides background on federal Indian law and policy and contains an original role-playing exercise on Indian gaming and intergovernmental relations. Indian gaming can provide an accessible context to introduce students to public policy issues facing tribes, the workings of tribal governance, and the interrelationships among federal, state, local, and tribal governments.