wheeler argued january decided march respondent member navajo tribe pleaded guilty tribal charge contributing delinquency minor sentenced subsequently indicted federal grand jury statutory rape arising incident moved dismiss indictment ground since tribal offense contributing delinquency minor lesser included offense statutory rape tribal proceeding barred subsequent federal prosecution district granted motion appeals affirmed holding since tribal courts federal district courts arms separate sovereigns double jeopardy clause fifth amendment barred respondent federal trial held double jeopardy clause bar federal prosecution pp controlling question source indian tribe power punish tribal offenders whether part inherent tribal sovereignty aspect sovereignty federal government delegated tribes congress pp indian tribes still possess aspects sovereignty withdrawn treaty statute implication necessary result dependent status pp evident treaties navajo tribe various statutes establishing federal criminal jurisdiction crimes involving indians navajo tribe never given sovereign power punish tribal offenders power implicitly lost virtue indian dependent status thus tribal exercise power presently continued exercise retained tribal sovereignty pp moreover power attributable delegation federal authority pp indian tribe criminally punishes tribe member violating tribal law tribe acts independent sovereign arm federal government talton mayes since tribal federal prosecutions brought separate sovereigns offence double jeopardy clause thus bar one occurred pp limit dual sovereignty concept successive state federal prosecutions respondent urges result case undesirable consequences tribal prosecution relatively minor offense bar federal prosecution much graver one thus depriving federal government right enforce laws congress solve problem depriving indian tribes criminal jurisdiction altogether abridgment tribes sovereign powers might equally undesirable see abbate pp stewart delivered opinion members joined except brennan took part consideration decision case stephen urbanczyk argued cause brief solicitor general mccree assistant attorney general civiletti deputy solicitor general barnett jerome feit michael farrell thomas argued cause filed brief respondent justice stewart delivered opinion question presented case whether double jeopardy clause fifth amendment bars prosecution indian federal district major crimes act previously convicted tribal lesser included offense arising incident october respondent member navajo tribe arrested tribal police officer bureau indian affairs high school many farms navajo indian reservation taken tribal jail chinle charged disorderly conduct violation title navajo tribal code october two days arrest respondent pleaded guilty disorderly conduct charge contributing delinquency minor violation title navajo tribal code sentenced days jail fine first charge days jail served concurrently jail term fine second year later november indictment charging respondent statutory rape returned grand jury district district arizona respondent moved dismiss indictment claiming since tribal offense contributing delinquency minor lesser included offense statutory rape proceedings taken place tribal barred subsequent federal prosecution see brown ohio district rejecting prosecutor argument identity sovereignties navajo tribal courts courts dismissed indictment appeals ninth circuit affirmed judgment dismissal concluding since indian tribal courts district courts arms separate sovereigns double jeopardy clause barred respondent trial granted certiorari resolve intercircuit conflict ii bartkus illinois abbate reaffirmed principle federal prosecution bar subsequent state prosecution person acts state prosecution bar federal one basis doctrine prosecutions laws separate sovereigns language fifth amendment subject defendant offence twice put jeopardy offence legal signification means transgression law every citizen also citizen state territory may said owe allegiance two sovereigns may liable punishment infraction laws either act may offense transgression laws either may see fit punish offender doubted yet truly averred offender twice punished offence one act committed two offences justly punishable moore illinois dual sovereignty concept apply however every instance successive cases brought nominally different prosecuting entities grafton held soldier acquitted murder federal retried offense territorial philippines puerto rico shell reiterated successive prosecutions federal territorial courts impermissible courts creations emanating sovereignty similarly waller florida held city state political subdivision bring successive prosecutions unlawful conduct growing episode despite fact state law treated two separate sovereignties respondent contends appeals held dual sovereignty concept apply successive prosecutions indian tribe indian tribes sovereigns derive power punish crimes federal government argument relies undisputed fact congress plenary authority legislate indian tribes matters including form government winton amos heff lone wolf hitchcock talton mayes federal power respondent argues tribes merely arms federal government words brief owe existence vitality solely political department federal government think respondent appeals relying federal control indian tribes misconceived distinction cases dual sovereignty concept applicable true territories subject ultimate control congress cities control state created fact relied upon basis decisions grafton shell waller differentiated cases bartkus abbate extent control exercised one prosecuting authority rather ultimate source power respective prosecutions undertaken bartkus abbate rest basic structure federal system national government separate political communities state federal governments derive power different sources organic law established lanza power inherent sovereign independently determine shall offense authority punish offenses exercising sovereignty ibid well federal government subject overriding requirements federal constitution supremacy clause gives congress within sphere power enact laws superseding conflicting laws degree federal control exercise state governmental power detract fact state sovereignty origin power contrast cities sovereign entities rather traditionally regarded subordinate governmental instrumentalities created state assist carrying state governmental functions reynolds sims city nothing agency state williams eggleston power define punish crimes exists power granted state power derive source creation mount pleasant beckwith said waller florida supra judicial power try petitioner municipal springs organic law created state general jurisdiction similarly territorial government entirely creation congress judicial tribunals exert powers authority grafton supra see cincinnati soap kagama american ins canter pet territorial government enacts enforces criminal laws govern inhabitants acting independent political community like state agency federal government domenech national city bank thus federal territory nation city state one system government laws operating within limits benner porter city state territory nation two separate sovereigns citizen owes separate allegiance meaningful sense one alone dual sovereignty concept bartkus abbate permit single sovereign impose multiple punishment single offense merely expedient establishing multiple political subdivisions power punish crimes iii undisputed indian tribes power enforce criminal laws tribe members although physically within territory subject ultimate federal control nonetheless remain separate people power regulating internal social relations kagama supra cherokee nation georgia pet right internal includes right prescribe laws applicable tribe members enforce laws criminal sanctions antelope talton mayes ex parte crow dog see ed infra discussed part ii controlling question case source power punish tribal offenders part inherent tribal sovereignty aspect sovereignty federal government delegated tribes congress powers indian tribes general inherent powers limited sovereignty never extinguished cohen handbook federal indian law emphasis original coming europeans tribes sovereign political communities see mcclanahan arizona state tax like sovereign bodies inherent power prescribe laws members punish infractions laws indian tribes course longer possessed full attributes sovereignty kagama supra incorporation within territory acceptance protection necessarily divested aspects sovereignty previously exercised specific treaty provision yielded sovereign powers statute exercise plenary control congress removed still others cases recognize indian tribes given full sovereignty recently said indian tribes unique aggregations possessing attributes sovereignty members territory good deal private voluntary organizations mazurie see also turner cherokee nation georgia supra sovereignty indian tribes retain unique limited character exists sufferance congress subject complete defeasance congress acts tribes retain existing sovereign powers sum indian tribes still possess aspects sovereignty withdrawn treaty statute implication necessary result dependent status see oliphant suquamish indian tribe ante evident sovereign power punish tribal offenders never given navajo tribe tribal exercise power today therefore continued exercise retained tribal sovereignty although treaties executed tribe provided punishment navajos commit crimes nothing either deprived tribe jurisdiction charge try punish members tribe violations tribal law contrary said mplicit treaty terms understanding internal affairs indians remained exclusively within jurisdiction whatever tribal government existed williams lee see also warren trading post tax similarly statutes establishing federal criminal jurisdiction crimes involving indians recognized indian tribe jurisdiction members first indian trade intercourse act act july stat provided federal government punish offenses committed indians citizen inhabitant mention crimes committed indians federal criminal jurisdiction extended crimes committed within indian country indian person persons offence committed one indian another within indian boundary excluded act mar ch stat indian trade intercourse act stat congress enacted direct progenitor general crimes act ed makes federal enclave criminal law generally applicable crimes indian country statute congress carried forward offense exception tribes exclusive jurisdiction offenses justice propriety extend laws congress expressly recognized jurisdiction tribal courts added another exception general crimes act providing federal courts try indian punished local law tribe act mar stat thus far depriving indian tribes sovereign power punish offenses tribal law members tribe congress repeatedly recognized power declined disturb moreover sovereign power tribe prosecute members tribal offenses clearly fall within part sovereignty indians implicitly lost virtue dependent status areas implicit divestiture sovereignty held occurred involving relations indian tribe nonmembers tribe thus indian tribes longer freely alienate land occupy oneida indian nation county oneida johnson wheat enter direct commercial governmental relations foreign nations worcester georgia pet cherokee nation georgia fletcher peck cranch johnson concurring recently held try nonmembers tribal courts oliphant suquamish indian tribe ante limitations rest fact dependent status indian tribes within territorial jurisdiction necessarily inconsistent freedom independently determine external relations powers including power prescribe enforce internal criminal laws different type involve relations among members tribe thus powers necessarily lost virtue tribe dependent status settled doctrine law nations weaker power surrender independence right self government associating stronger taking protection worcester georgia supra navajo tribe power punish offenses tribal law committed members aspect retained sovereignty supported absence federal grant power navajo merely exercise delegated federal sovereignty delegation logically appear somewhere provision relevant treaties statutes confers right general power punish crimes particular upon tribe true exercise powers matters navajo tribe like indian tribes remains subject ultimate federal control thus navajo tribal council created present tribal code tribal courts bureau indian affairs established code indian tribal offenses indian offenses reservation see cfr part cf pursuant federal regulations present tribal code approved secretary interior becoming effective see cfr moreover indian reorganization act stat act apr stat authorized tribe adopt constitution indian civil rights act stat made provisions bill rights applicable indian tribes limited punishment tribal courts impose imprisonment six months fine none laws created indians power govern right punish crimes committed tribal offenders indeed act rehabilitation act recognized indian tribes already power existing law see powers indian tribes congress certain ways regulated manner extent tribal power mean congress source power sum power punish offenses tribal law committed tribe members part navajos primeval sovereignty never taken away either explicitly implicitly attributable way delegation federal authority follows navajo tribe exercises power part retained sovereignty arm federal government conclusion indian tribe power punish tribal offenders part retained sovereignty clearly reflected case decided years ago talton mayes cherokee indian charged murdering another cherokee indian territory claimed indictment tribe defective grand jury clause fifth amendment holding fifth amendment apply tribal prosecutions stated case depends upon whether powers local government exercised cherokee nation federal powers created springing constitution hence controlled fifth amendment constitution whether local powers created constitution although subject general provisions paramount authority congress repeated adjudications long since answered former question negative true many adjudications fact fully recognized although possessed attributes local self government exercising tribal functions rights subject legislative authority existence right congress regulate manner local powers cherokee nation shall exercised render local powers federal powers arising created constitution iv respondent contends despite fact successive tribal federal prosecutions offence dual sovereignty concept limited successive state federal prosecutions accept restrictive view concept view noted require disregard words double jeopardy clause moreover sort undesirable consequences identified abbate occur successive tribal federal prosecutions barred despite fact tribal federal courts arms separate sovereigns tribal courts impose punishment excess six months imprisonment fine hand federal jurisdiction crimes committed indians includes many major offenses thus federal prosecution major crime tribal prosecution lesser included offense possible defendant often face potential mild tribal punishment federal punishment substantial severity indeed respondent present case faced possibility federal sentence years prison received tribal sentence days small fine case prospect avoiding severe federal punishment surely motivate member tribe charged commission offense seek stand trial first tribal tribal prosecution held bar federal one important federal interests prosecution major offenses indian reservations frustrated problem course solved congress exercise plenary power tribes chose deprive criminal jurisdiction altogether fundamental abridgment powers indian tribes might thought undesirable federal state criminal jurisdiction avoided conflict bartkus abbate indian tribes distinct political communities mores laws worcester georgia kansas indians wall enforced formal criminal proceedings tribal courts well less formal means significant interest maintaining orderly relations among members preserving tribal customs traditions apart federal interest law order reservation tribal laws procedures often influenced tribal custom differ greatly see ex parte crow dog thus tribal courts important mechanisms protecting significant tribal interests federal tribe jurisdiction punish members infractions tribal law detract substantially tribal federal state criminal jurisdiction trench upon important state interests thus bartkus abbate persuasive reasons reject respondent argument arbitrarily ignore settled dual sovereignty concept applies successive tribal federal prosecutions accordingly judgment appeals reversed case remanded proceedings consistent opinion ordered footnotes record reveal sentence navajo tribal carried indictment charged day october district arizona within navajo indian reservation indian country anthony robert wheeler indian male carnally know female indian wife attained age sixteen years fifteen years age violation title code sections time indictment provided relevant part indian commits person property another indian person following offenses namely carnal knowledge female wife attained age sixteen years within indian country shall subject laws penalties persons committing offenses within exclusive jurisdiction major crimes act since amended respects relevant indian crimes act stat title ed applicable within areas exclusive federal jurisdiction punishes carnal knowledge female years age defendant wife imprisonment years holding district appeals tribal offense contributing delinquency minor included within federal offense statutory rape challenged government decision district unreported later case appeals eighth circuit held double jeopardy clause bar successive tribal federal prosecutions offense expressly rejecting view ninth circuit present case walking crow see also elk kills plenty although problems arising concurrent federal state criminal jurisdiction noted earlier see houston moore wheat clearly address issue fox ohio marigold moore illinois century cases upheld power federal government make act criminal case possibility consecutive state federal prosecutions raised objection concurrent jurisdiction rejected ground multiple prosecutions occurred constitute double jeopardy first case actual multiple prosecutions upheld lanza involving prosecution violation volstead act ch stat conviction criminal violation liquor laws state washington abbate petitioners received prison terms three months state convictions faced five years imprisonment federal charge bartkus referred screws facts give rise federal prosecution ed carried maximum penalties one two years imprisonment state prosecution murder capital offense federal prosecution comparatively minor offense prevent state prosecution grave infraction state law result shocking untoward deprivation historic right obligation maintain peace order within confines bartkus illinois prohibition double jeopardy made applicable philippines act congress act july stat previous case held unnecessary decide whether double jeopardy clause applied within philippines force absence statute kepner colliflower garland binns de lima bidwell mormon church murphy ramsey trenton new jersey hunter pittsburgh williams eggleston mount pleasant beckwith see mcquillin law municipal corporations ed indeed shell case noted congress given puerto rico autonomy similar cf lanza holding state power enact prohibition laws derive eighteenth amendment provision congress concurrent jurisdiction area rather state inherent sovereignty see also trenton new jersey supra hunter pittsburgh supra worcester street barnes district columbia indeed relationship territory federal government accurately compared relationship city state dorr quoting cooley general principles constitutional law see national bank county yankton cf gonzales williams american ins canter pet thus unless limited treaty statute tribe power determine tribe membership cherokee intermarriage cases roff burney regulate domestic relations among tribe members fisher district cf quiver prescribe rules inheritance property jones meehan ex rel mackey coxe see infra first treaty signed canyon de chelly ratified congress stat second treaty signed ratified stat title ed provides except otherwise expressly provided law general laws punishment offenses committed place within sole exclusive jurisdiction except district columbia shall extend indian country section shall extend offenses committed one indian person property another indian indian committing offense indian country punished local law tribe case treaty stipulation exclusive jurisdiction offenses may secured indian tribes respectively despite statute broad language apply crimes committed subject state jurisdiction mcbratney statute applicable present case major crimes act instant prosecution brought enacted act mar stat contain exception indians punished tribal law need decide whether carefully limited intrusion federal power otherwise exclusive jurisdiction indian tribes punish indians crimes committed indian land antelope deprives tribal jurisdiction enumerated offenses since crimes respondent pleaded guilty navajo tribal among enumerated major crimes act cf oliphant suquamish indian tribe ante see right self government administer justice among rude fashion even extent inflicting death penalty never questioned government carefully abstained attempting regulate domestic affairs punishing crimes committed one indian another indian country referred treaties made indians grant rights indians grant rights reservation granted winans tribal courts established provisions tribal code resolution navajo tribal council see titles navajo tribal code oliver udall app courts indian offenses cfr courts still exist approximately reservations traditional agencies enforcement tribal law custom broken adequate substitute provided cfr need decide today whether arm federal government like navajo tribal derives powers inherent sovereignty tribe department interior charged statute responsibility management indian affairs matters arising indian relations clearly view tribal matter retained sovereignty rather congressional grant department interior federal indian law powers indian tribes see also final report american indian policy review commission emphasizing navajo tribe never lost sovereign power try tribal criminals mean imply tribe deprived right statute treaty regained act congress necessarily arm federal government interesting question us express opinion thereon cf mescalero apache tribe jones holding business enterprise operated reservation tribe federal instrumentality free state taxation federal jurisdiction also extends crimes committed indian punished tribal ed see supra crimes federal jurisdiction regardless whether indian involved assaulting federal officer stone see keeble describing reasons enactment major crimes act moreover since federal criminal jurisdiction indians extends well offenses independent federal interest protected see supra federal government deprived power protect interests well navaho word language dine people term constant reminder navahos still constitute society individual strong sense belonging others speak language token strong sense difference isolation rest humanity kluckhohn leighton navaho rev ed traditional tribal justice tends informal consensual rather adjudicative often emphasizes restitution rather punishment see final report american indian policy review commission hagan indian police judges van valkenburgh navajo common law museum northern arizona notes see generally materials price law american indian tribal courts kinds including courts indian offenses see supra handled estimated cases final report american indian policy review commission