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Statute

Indian Citizenship Act

The 1924 Indian Citizenship Act declared all non-citizen Native people born in the United States citizens without touching tribal property rights.

Citation
Act of June 2, 1924, 43 Stat. 253 (8 U.S.C. 1401(b))
Year
1924
Effect on land rights
mixed

What happened

The Indian Citizenship Act was approved on June 2, 1924. It is one short paragraph in the Statutes at Large, under the title "An Act To authorize the Secretary of the Interior to issue certificates of citizenship to Indians." Its text declares that "all non-citizen Indians born within the territorial limits of the United States be, and they are hereby, declared to be citizens of the United States."

A proviso protects tribal property: "the granting of such citizenship shall not in any manner impair or otherwise affect the right of any Indian to tribal or other property." Today's citizenship statute, 8 U.S.C. 1401(b), carries the same idea, saying citizenship for a person born to a member of an Indian, Eskimo, Aleutian or other aboriginal tribe does not impair the right to tribal or other property.

Citizenship did not by itself guarantee a vote. The Library of Congress notes that earlier laws had tied citizenship to land allotments, including the 1887 Dawes Act and the 1906 Burke Act, and that a 1919 act gave citizenship to Native veterans of World War I. It quotes a 1929 Senate document saying Native citizens could be denied the vote if they failed state registration, poll tax or education requirements. It adds that "well over 40 years passed before every state complied" with the 1924 Act and enfranchised Native Americans.

Summarized with AI assistance from 5 sources and checked against their words; not yet reviewed by historians or by the nations. Report an error

What the sources say, and how this was checked

Well supported by the sources below.

  1. Indians born within the territorial limits of the UnitedAct of June 2, 1924, 43 Stat. 253 (Statutes at Large), govinfo.gov
  2. in any manner impair or otherwise affect the right of any Indian to tribal or other propertyAct of June 2, 1924, 43 Stat. 253 (Statutes at Large), govinfo.gov
  3. a person born in the United States to a member of an Indian, Eskimo, Aleutian, or other aboriginal tribe8 U.S. Code sec. 1401, Cornell LII
  4. well over 40 years passed before every state complied with the Snyder Act and enfranchised Native AmericansFrom the Serial Set: Citizenship and Suffrage for Native Americans, Library of Congress
  5. may be denied the privilege of voting if they fail to comply with the requirements of the law as to registration, payment of poll taxFrom the Serial Set: Citizenship and Suffrage for Native Americans, Library of Congress

Research notes. The record gives the cite 8 U.S.C. 1401(b); the current code section is confirmed. Which states resisted, and when each allowed Native voting, is not given in the sources opened here beyond the Library of Congress summary.

Who is doing the work

Native legal and land defense, nationally

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Connections

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Doctrine applied 2

Policy era 1

Sources

  1. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_Citizenship_Act_of_1924pointer
Kind
Statute
Confidence
High

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