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Merrion v. Jicarilla Apache Tribe facts for kids

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Merrion v. Jicarilla Apache Tribe
Seal of the United States Supreme Court.svg
Argued March 30, 1981
Reargued November 4, 1981
Decided January 25, 1982
Full case name Merrion et al., DBA Merrion & Bayless, et al. v. Jicarilla Apache Tribe et al.
Citations 455 U.S. 130 (more)
102 S. Ct. 894; 71 L. Ed. 2d 21; 1982 U.S. LEXIS 25; 72 Oil & Gas Rep. 617
Prior history
Merrion and Bayless, et al. v. Jicarilla Apache Tribe, et al., No. 77-292P and No. 77-343P, (D. N.Mex., 1979) (not reported)
Holding
Held that an Indian tribe has the authority to impose taxes on non-Indians that are conducting business on the reservation as an inherent power under their tribal sovereignty.
Court membership
Case opinions
Majority Marshall, joined by Brennan, White, Blackmun, Powell, O'Connor
Dissent Stevens, joined by Burger, Rehnquist
Laws applied
U.S. Const. Art I, §8; 25 U.S.C. § 398a, et seq.

Merrion v. Jicarilla Apache Tribe was an important case decided by the Supreme Court of the United States in 1982. The Court ruled that Native American tribes have the power to collect taxes from companies that do business on their reservation lands. This power comes from their right to govern themselves, known as tribal sovereignty.

What Was This Case About?

This case was about whether the Jicarilla Apache Tribe could charge a tax on oil and natural gas that companies took from their reservation. The tribe wanted to use this tax money to help their community.

Who Was Involved?

  • The Jicarilla Apache Tribe is a Native American tribe located in New Mexico. They own land where oil and natural gas can be found.
  • Merrion & Bayless was one of the companies that had agreements to drill for oil and gas on the tribe's land. They argued that the tribe did not have the right to tax them.

Why Was This Important?

The companies argued that only the U.S. government or the state government could tax them. They believed that tribes did not have this power. The Supreme Court had to decide if tribes had the right to tax businesses on their land. This was a big question about tribal self-governance.

The Court's Decision

The Supreme Court decided that the Jicarilla Apache Tribe did have the power to tax the oil and gas companies. The Court said that this power is a part of a tribe's "inherent sovereignty." This means it's a basic right that tribes have to govern themselves and their lands.

The Court explained that tribes have the right to manage their own resources. This includes the power to tax activities that happen on their reservations. This power helps tribes pay for services and programs for their people.

What Does This Mean for Tribes?

The Merrion v. Jicarilla Apache Tribe decision was a big win for Native American tribes. It confirmed their right to tax non-tribal businesses operating on their lands. This helps tribes gain more control over their economies and futures.

This ruling allows tribes to raise money for schools, healthcare, and other important services. It strengthens their ability to act as independent governments.

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