The Crow Tribal General Council, the governing body of the Crow Nation

Crow Nation

The Crow, also called the Absaroka or Apsáalooke, are a Siouan people of Native Americans who historically lived in the Yellowstone River valley, which extends from present-day Wyoming, through Montana and into North Dakota. They now live on a reservation south of Billings, Montana and in several...

, through the adoption of the 2001 Crow Tribal Constitution, established a three-branch government with a separation of powers. There is an Executive Branch, Legislative Branch, and Judicial Branch.

The Executive Branch is composed of four independently elected officials (Chairman, Vice-Chairman, Secretary, and Vice-Secretary) and all agencies and departments. The four elected officials serve concurrent four year terms (term limit of two).

The Legislative Branch is composed of 18 legislators (called "senators" as a matter of courtesy), with three elected in staggered terms from each of the six districts of the Crow Indian Reservation. The Crow senators serve four year terms with no term limits.

The Judicial Branch is composed of courts established in the Crow Law and Order Code. Currently, there is a Crow Tribal Court (general jurisdiction), Crow Juvenile Court, and a Crow Court of Appeals. A Traditional Supreme Court has been established by law but is as of yet unimplemented. The judges of the Crow Tribal Court are elected to unlimited, four-year terms.

Term of Office	Chairperson	Vice Chairperson Secretary Vice-Secretary
1920-1921	Ralph Saco
1921-1927	James Carpenter
1927-1934	William Bends
1934-1938	Hartford Bear Class
1938-1941	Charles Yarlott
1941-1946	Henry Pretty on Top
1946-1954	Robert Yellowtail Robert Yellowtail Robert "Robbie" Yellowtail was a leader of the Crow Nation. Described as a "20th Century Warrior", Yellowtail was the first Indian to hold the post of Agency Superintendent.-References:...
1954-1956	William Wall
1956-1958	Posie Whiteman
1958-1960	Posie Whiteman
1960-1962	John Cummings
1962-1964	John Cummings
1964-1966	John Wilson	Douglas Adams Donald Deernose Daniel Old Elk
1966-1968	Edison Real Bird Edison Real Bird Edison Real Bird was the chairman of the Crow Nation Tribal council from 1966 to 1972. While in that position, he implemented several key democratic reforms, and oversaw the election of Pauline Small, the first woman to be elected in the Crow Nation....	Edward Little Light Joseph Ten Bear Pauline Small Pauline Small Pauline Small was the first woman to be elected to office in the Crow Tribe of Indians. In 1966 she was elected to Vice-Secretary of the Crow Tribal Council, holding office de facto to 1972, and served in various positions within the Crow Tribal Offices, many to do with supporting...
1968-1970	Edison Real Bird Edison Real Bird Edison Real Bird was the chairman of the Crow Nation Tribal council from 1966 to 1972. While in that position, he implemented several key democratic reforms, and oversaw the election of Pauline Small, the first woman to be elected in the Crow Nation....	Edward Little Light Joseph Ten Bear Pauline Small Pauline Small Pauline Small was the first woman to be elected to office in the Crow Tribe of Indians. In 1966 she was elected to Vice-Secretary of the Crow Tribal Council, holding office de facto to 1972, and served in various positions within the Crow Tribal Offices, many to do with supporting...
1970-1972	Edison Real Bird Edison Real Bird Edison Real Bird was the chairman of the Crow Nation Tribal council from 1966 to 1972. While in that position, he implemented several key democratic reforms, and oversaw the election of Pauline Small, the first woman to be elected in the Crow Nation....	Edward Little Light Joseph Ten Bear Pauline Small Pauline Small Pauline Small was the first woman to be elected to office in the Crow Tribe of Indians. In 1966 she was elected to Vice-Secretary of the Crow Tribal Council, holding office de facto to 1972, and served in various positions within the Crow Tribal Offices, many to do with supporting...
1972-1974	David Stewart
1974-1976	Patrick Stands Over Bull
1976-1977	Patrick Stands Over Bull
1977-1978	Forest Horn
1978-1980	Forest Horn
1980-1982	Forest Horn
1982-1984	Donald Stewart
1984-1986	Donald Stewart
1986-1988	Richard Real Bird
1988-1990	Richard Real Bird	Clara Nomee
1990-1992	Clara Nomee	Joseph Pickett Blaine Small _____________
1992-1994	Clara Nomee	Joseph Pickett Blaine Small _____________
1994-1996	Clara Nomee	Joseph Pickett Dennis Big Hair _____________
1996-1998	Clara Nomee	Joseph Pickett Dennis Big Hair _____________
1998-2000	Clara (White Hip) Nomee	Joseph Pickett Dennis Big Hair Cornelius Little Light
2000-2001	Clifford Birdinground New constitution extends term of office to 2004	Vincent Goes Ahead Tilton Old Bull * Secretary's Impeachment Larney Little Owl
2001-2002	Clifford Birdinground *Chairperson's Resignation	Vincent Goes Ahead Larney Little Owl * Vice-Secretary becomes Secretary Hubert Two Leggins *Completed remaining term of office
2002	Vincent Goes Ahead *Acting Chairperson; Carl Venne Carl Venne Carl Venne , whose Crow name was Aashiise Dakatak Baacheitchish, was, until his death, the chairman of the executive branch of the Crow Nation. He was originally elected after the resignation of Chairman Clifford Birdinground in November 2002 and served until his death in 2009...  elected	Vincent Goes Ahead Larney Little Owl Hubert Two Leggins
2002-2004	Carl Venne Carl Venne Carl Venne , whose Crow name was Aashiise Dakatak Baacheitchish, was, until his death, the chairman of the executive branch of the Crow Nation. He was originally elected after the resignation of Chairman Clifford Birdinground in November 2002 and served until his death in 2009... *Filled remaining term of office	Vincent Goes Ahead Larney Little Owl Hubert Two Leggins
2004-2007	Carl Venne Carl Venne Carl Venne , whose Crow name was Aashiise Dakatak Baacheitchish, was, until his death, the chairman of the executive branch of the Crow Nation. He was originally elected after the resignation of Chairman Clifford Birdinground in November 2002 and served until his death in 2009...	Cedric Black Eagle Andrew Old Elk *Died in 2007 Darrin Old Coyote
2007	Carl Venne Carl Venne Carl Venne , whose Crow name was Aashiise Dakatak Baacheitchish, was, until his death, the chairman of the executive branch of the Crow Nation. He was originally elected after the resignation of Chairman Clifford Birdinground in November 2002 and served until his death in 2009...	Cedric Black Eagle Office Vacant Darrin Old Coyote *Acting Secretary
2007-2008	Carl Venne Carl Venne Carl Venne , whose Crow name was Aashiise Dakatak Baacheitchish, was, until his death, the chairman of the executive branch of the Crow Nation. He was originally elected after the resignation of Chairman Clifford Birdinground in November 2002 and served until his death in 2009...	Cedric Black Eagle Scott Russell * Filled remaining term of office Darrin Old Coyote