blatchford native village noatak argued february decided june respondents alaska native villages brought suit petitioner state official seeking order requiring payment money allegedly owed state statute district dismissed suit violating eleventh amendment appeals reversed first ground constituted congressional abrogation eleventh amendment immunity upon reconsideration ground alaska immunity suits indian tribes held eleventh amendment bars suits indian tribes without consent respondents argument traditional principles sovereign immunity restrict suits individuals sovereigns rejected principality monaco mississippi merit respondents contention consented suits tribes plan convention see ibid monaco regard foreign sovereigns see compelling evidence founders thought waived immunity regard tribes adopted constitution although tribes respects like may sue south dakota north carolina like foreign sovereigns mutuality concession makes surrender immunity suits sister plausible mutuality tribes held repeatedly enjoy immunity suits oklahoma tax citizen band potawatomi tribe pp section grants district courts original jurisdiction hear civil actions brought indian tribe wherein matter controversy arises federal law operate void eleventh amendment bar tribes suits pp assuming doubtful proposition federal government exemption state sovereign immunity delegated embody general delegation tribes federal government authority minnesota sue tribes behalf although moe confederated salish kootenai tribes held revoked tribes tax injunction act denial access persons seeking injunctive relief state taxation equated tribal access federal access purport generally basis delegation theory respect constitutional opposed merely statutory constraints pp abrogate eleventh amendment immunity satisfy standard congressional abrogation set forth dellmuth muth since reflect unmistakably clear intent abrogate immunity made plain language statute sufficiently clear statement less stringent standard parden terminal railway alabama docks case unlike dellmuth already decided time enactment case neither mentioned premised abrogation opposed consensual waiver indeed even acknowledge possibility congressional abrogation fitzpatrick bitzer pp respondents argument eleventh amendment bar claim injunctive relief must considered initially appeals remand scalia delivered opinion rehnquist white kennedy souter joined blackmun filed dissenting opinion marshall stevens joined post rex lee argued cause petitioner briefs charles cole attorney general alaska douglas bailey former attorney general gary amendola douglas mertz jack mcgee william cummings assistant attorneys general lawrence aschenbrenner argued cause respondents brief respondent native village noatak robert anderson william caldwell carol daniel ralph johnson michael walleri alicemary closuit filed brief respondent circle village briefs amici curiae urging reversal filed state alabama et al donald hanaway attorney general wisconsin charles hoornstra assistant attorney general attorneys general respective follows siegelman alabama robert corbin arizona john steven clark arkansas duane woodard colorado clarine nardi riddle connecticut robert butterworth florida warren price iii hawaii jim jones idaho frank kelley michigan hubert humphrey iii minnesota mike moore mississippi marc racicot montana robert spire nebraska brian mckay nevada hal stratton new mexico nicholas spaeth north dakota robert henry oklahoma ernest preate pennsylvania travis medlock south carolina kenneth eikenberry washington joseph meyer wyoming council state governments et al benna ruth solomon joyce holmes benjamin clifton elgarten luther zeigler briefs amici curiae urging affirmance filed native village tanana et al lloyd benton miller eric smith david case metlakatla indian community charles hobbs christopher stearns arlinda locklear howard bichler bertram hirsch milton rosenberg filed brief miccosukee tribe indians florida et al amici curiae justice scalia delivered opinion asked mark boundaries state sovereign immunity suit federal appeals ninth circuit found immunity extend suits indian tribes alaska seeks review determination legislature repealed statute see alaska sess laws ch replaced one matched program expanded commissioner year respondents filed suit challenging commissioner action federal equal protection grounds seeking order requiring commissioner pay money received commissioner enlarged program district initially granted injunction preserve sufficient funds fiscal year dismissed suit violating eleventh amendment appeals ninth circuit reversed first ground constituted congressional abrogation eleventh amendment immunity native village noatak hoffman later withdrawn upon reconsideration ground alaska immunity suits indian tribes granted certiorari sub nom hoffman native village noatak ii judicial power shall construed extend suit law equity commenced prosecuted one citizens another state citizens subjects foreign state respondents ask us revisit hans instead argue traditional principles immunity presumed hans apply suits sovereigns like indian tribes even respondents contend consented suits tribes plan convention consider points turn arguing sovereign immunity restrict suit indian tribes respondents submit first sovereign immunity restricts suits individuals sovereigns sovereigns sovereigns recognized oklahoma tax citizen band potawatomi tribe indian tribes sovereigns respondents conception nature sovereign immunity finds support apparent understanding founders dicta opinions whatever reach meaning early statements notion traditional principles sovereign immunity restrict suits individuals rejected principality monaco mississippi opinion conception sovereignty embraces must begin monaco principality come possession mississippi state bonds sued mississippi federal recover amounts due bonds mississippi defended grounds eleventh amendment among others respondents understanding sovereign immunity eleventh amendment limited otherwise clear grant jurisdiction article iii hear controversies state foreign held manifestly rest mere literal application words article iii assume letter eleventh amendment exhausts restrictions upon suits behind words constitutional provisions postulates limit control postulate union still possessing attributes sovereignty shall immune suits without consent save surrender immunity plan convention federalist monaco supra omitted pursue inquiry present case thus confront respondents second contention waived immunity indian tribes adopted constitution monaco regard foreign sovereigns also regard indian tribes compelling evidence founders thought surrender inherent constitutional compact hitherto found surrender immunity particular litigants two contexts suits sister south dakota north carolina suits texas found surrender suit kansas see jackson eleventh amendment state sovereign immunity yale surrender suit foreign sovereigns monaco supra respondents argue indian tribes like foreign sovereigns true respects example domestic relevant difference foreign sovereigns however domesticity role convention within surrender immunity former latter implicit makes surrender immunity suit sister plausible mutuality concession mutuality either foreign sovereigns indian tribes repeatedly held indian tribes enjoy immunity suits potawatomi tribe supra absurd suggest tribes surrendered immunity convention even parties convention surrender tribes immunity benefit believe surrendered immunity benefit tribes iii section provides follows district courts shall original jurisdiction civil actions brought indian tribe band governing body duly recognized secretary interior wherein matter controversy arises constitution laws treaties district courts shall original jurisdiction civil actions wherein matter controversy exceeds sum value exclusive interest costs arises constitution laws treaties moe however found something title purposes implication tribe access federal litigate cases least respects broad suing tribe trustee emphasis added respect issue moe access federal purpose obtaining injunctive relief state taxation tax injunction act denied access persons held revoked denial indian tribes moe purport saying equated tribal access access generally least respects certain respects respondents urge us effect eliminate limitation utterly impossible imagine extreme replication ability sue replication even point allowing unconsented suit state sovereigns vast expansion upon moe section moe held eliminate application tribal suits merely limitation congress created commiting committing state suits state courts matter comity absent statute state taxes constitutionally enjoined see michigan dept state police obstacle suit present case contrast creation congress constitution willingness eliminate former way bespeaks willingness eliminate latter especially limitation certain respects explicitly announced moreover shall discuss part cases require congress exercise power abrogate state sovereign immunity exists exercised unmistakeable clarity avoid difficulty respondents assert represents abrogation sovereign immunity rather delegation tribes federal government exemption state sovereign immunity doubt begin sovereign exemption delegated even one limits permissibility delegation respondents propose persons whose behalf might sue consent inherent convention suit instance control responsible federal officers consent suit anyone might select even consent suit particular person benefit consent suit person event assuming delegation exemption state sovereign immunity theoretically possible reason believe congress ever contemplated strange notion even decision moe regarded way related sovereign immunity see supra nevertheless regarded way related congressional delegation opinion mention word contains slightest suggestion analysis say suggests certain respects tribes suing section accorded treatment similar sued behalf remotely imply delegation equivalence treatment delegation theory entirely creature respondents invention temper congress acknowledged powers abrogation due concern eleventh amendment role essential component constitutional structure applied simple stringent test congress may abrogate constitutionally secured immunity suit federal making intention unmistakably clear language statute respondents argument however clear statement standard dellmuth rather sufficiently clear statement standard parden terminal railway alabama docks existing authority abrogation time enactment parden found sufficiently clear intent avoid state immunity statute subjected liability every common carrier interstate commerce state statute enactment chose become carrier interstate commerce similarly respondents argue statute grants jurisdiction district courts hear civil actions brought indian tribe constitute sufficiently clear expression intent abrogate immunity dellmuth contrary respondents maintain since statute enacted long rule parden drawn question dellmuth supra shall assume sake argument though means accept congress must presumed relatively obscure decision parden mind backdrop legislation even congress aware parden minimal clarity requirement nothing parden lead congress presume requirement applied abrogation state immunity parden neither mentioned premised upon abrogation theory entering field economic activity federally regulated state impliedly consent bound regulation subject suit federal terms regulated parties thus waiv ing eleventh amendment immunity years passage first acknowledge congressional power abrogate state immunity fourteenth amendment fitzpatrick bitzer thus parden given congress reason believe abrogate state sovereign immunity gives us reason believe congress intended abrogation means subtle time enacted abrogation regarded novel say questionable course general arising statute like conceivably thought imply conclude neither current standard dellmuth standard effect time parden abrogation state sovereign immunity iv judgment appeals reversed case remanded proceedings consistent opinion ordered footnotes evidence alluded respondents statement president washington chief cornplanter seneca nation security remainder lands state person purchase lands unless public treaty held authority cause complaint purchaser make satisfactory proof thereof federal courts open redress persons american state papers indian affairs vol course denying indian tribes right sue federal disadvantage relation persons respondents asking access favorable others enjoy injunction suits brought state officers official capacity state name missouri fiske respondents argue since plaintiffs moe confederated salish kootenai tribes named state montana defendant well individual officers decision case held eliminated statutory bar sovereign immunity well think since montana objected sovereign immunity grounds immunity waived issue asserting grant jurisdiction civil actions suffices abrogate state defense immunity post dissent repeated mistake chisholm georgia dall see iredell dissenting case occasioned eleventh amendment fact congress grants jurisdiction hear claim suffice show congress abrogated defenses claim issues wholly distinct state may waive eleventh amendment immunity certainly grant district jurisdiction hear claim dissent view returns us like sisyphus beginning struggle find enable tribes overcome alaska sovereign immunity express view whether respondents qualify tribes within meaning statute justice blackmun justice marshall justice stevens join dissenting today holds eleventh amendment precludes native american tribes seeking vindicate federal rights regard secured constitution resolves case reliance doctrine accept believe construction pertinent jurisdictional statute otherwise flawed dissent substantial historical analysis supports view already exhaustively detailed see brennan joined marshall blackmun stevens dissenting welch texas dept highways public transportation brennan joined marshall blackmun stevens dissenting pennsylvania union gas stevens concurring pennhurst state school hospital halderman stevens joined brennan marshall blackmun dissenting shall repeat bears emphasis however need compounded error hans louisiana progeny extending doctrine state sovereign immunity bar suits tribal entities neither citizens another state citizens subjects foreign state ii even accept proposition rule times might serve mechanism discerning congressional intent surely reject application despite attempt give constitutional cast rule bottom tool statutory construction like must judiciary power redraw legislative enactments congress authority regulate sphere activity simply must best determine whether done particular instance majority rule one method accomplishing task premised perception congress casually alter balance power federal government federal intrusion state authority unusual case courts use caution determining jurisdiction expanded erected rule order certain abrogation congress plan whatever validity determination may generally extend matters concerning federal regulation native american affairs sphere governmental operations balance power always weighed heavily favor federal government indeed plenary power congress deal special problems indians drawn explicitly implicitly constitution morton mancari illustrative principle cases holding law state generally inapplicable native american affairs absent consent congress see worcester georgia pet chief justice marshall explained worcester federally recognized tribe distinct community occupying territory boundaries accurately described laws state force citizens state right enter assent tribes conformity treaties acts congress whole intercourse nation constitution laws vested government thus area pertinent balance power federal government tribes playing subsidiary role spheres activity otherwise susceptible state regulation according settled principles constitution committed exclusively government union worcester georgia native american affairs concerned presumptions underlying rule thus rule place interpreting statutes pertaining tribes employing traditional tools statutory interpretation conclude congress intended authorize constitutional claims damages tribes section provides district courts shall original jurisdiction civil actions brought indian tribe band governing body duly recognized secretary interior wherein matter controversy arises constitution laws treaties emphasis added prior indian tribes largely dependent upon government enforce rights state encroachment see minnesota arrangement derived historic trust relationship tribes see cohen handbook federal indian law seeking judicial protection tribal interests federal government course unrestrained doctrine state sovereign immunity minnesota citing texas congress enacted part larger national policy native american peoples see price clinton law american indian ed consistent policy congress contemplated used particularly situations suffered conflict interest otherwise unable unwilling bring suit trustee indians arizona san carlos apache tribe words congress sought eliminate tribes dependence upon vindication federal rights federal courts light legislative purpose held moe confederated salish kootenai tribes tax injunction act bar action enjoin collection state taxes brought tribe pursuant although precludes suit private litigant construing identified congressional intent tribe access federal litigate matter arising constitution laws treaties least respects broad suing tribe trustee federal government brought suit tribes behalf see heckman held tribes similarly empowered agree respondents litigation authority bestowed tribes also includes right bring federal claims damages legislative history statute reveals congress intention tribes bring litigation involving issues identical raised acting trustee tribes house report reason believe authority limited prospective relief broad range suits brought fundamentally vindication native american rights institutional responsibility federal government since republic founding see cherokee nation georgia pet section represents frank acknowledgment government often lacks resources political adequately fulfill responsibility given admission lightly restrict authority granted tribes defend interests rather reasoned interpretation congressional authorization bring suits necessary vindicate fully federal rights tribes hardly requires explication monetary remedies often necessary afford relief providing means whereby tribes assured judicial determination whether action brought behalf government attorneys house report necessarily entails access monetary redress federal rights violated resisting conclusion majority asserts tax injunction act merely congressional enactment doctrine sovereign immunity constitutional one willingness eliminate former way bespeaks willingness eliminate latter ante premise lead conclusion congress appropriate legislation may abrogate state sovereign immunity may repeal amend prior enactments moreover tax injunction act like sovereign immunity doctrine rooted historical notions federalism comity see fair assessment real estate mcnary cases cited therein light parallels find expansive congressional purpose identified moe provide substantial support proposition intended convey federal jurisdiction civil actions emphasis added brought recognized tribes government brought behalf finally construing admittedly ambiguous statute board seber must guided eminently sound vital canon northern cheyenne tribe hollowbreast statutes passed benefit dependent indian tribes liberally construed doubtful expressions resolved favor indians alaska pacific fisheries bryan itasca county unlike interpretive rule adopted recently atascadero canon construction dates back earliest years nation history see worcester georgia kansas indians wall choate trapp indeed rooted unique trust relationship tribes federal government inherent constitutional plan see art cl art cl light principle construction requires linguistic contortion read grant federal jurisdiction civil actions encompass tribal litigation brought tribes guardian iii eleventh amendment reads judicial power shall construed extend suit law equity commenced prosecuted one citizens another state citizens subjects foreign state