Government Under the Constitution of the Yavapai-Apache Nation, the tribal government is divided into three separate branches: the executive, the legislative and the judicial. Executive Branch Chairman | Vice Chairman Legislative Tribal Council Members Judicial Tribal Courts | Appellate Court |Prosecution |Public Defender Boards & Commissions

Executive Branch

Legislative

The Yavapai-Apache Nation Tribal Council consists of nine members, including the Chairperson and Vice Chairperson. Council Members must be enrolled members of the Yavapai-Apache Nation and are elected during tribal-wide elections.

Council Member - Billy Garner

Council Member -Nancy Guzman

Council Member - Libby Johnson

Council Member - Jon Huey

Council Member - Cora-Lei Marquez

Council Member - Roberta Quail

Judicial

The Judicial Branch consists of the Tribal Court and the Court of Appeals.

Boards & Commissions

Regulatory Boards and Commissions:

Election Board

Enrollment Board

Land and Water Board

Gaming Commission

Housing Advisory Council

Community Lending Corporation/CDFI Board of Directors

Business Oversight Boards:

Cliff Castle Casino Board of Directors

Distant Drums Board of Directors

Sand and Rock Board of Directors

Whitehills Corporation Board of Directors

Yavapai-Apache Construction Board of Directors

The Tribal Gaming Board oversees all day-to-day operational issues of the casino. It establishes and monitors the casino's operating budget, approves purchases and financial decisions, writes or edits casino policies and procedures and handles personnel issues. The Tribal Gaming Board works cooperatively with the Tribal Gaming Commission to ensure all aspects of casino policies and decisions are managed in the best interests of the Yavapai-Apache Nation.

The Tribal Gaming Commission (TGC) for the Yavapai-Apache Nation was established in December 1993. The purpose of the Tribal Gaming Commission is to:
1) regulate all gaming activities within the reservation and
2) enforce gaming laws and ordinances.

It consists of a five-member Board of Commissioners, appointed by the Tribal Council, and a paid staff of 29 employees. At least three of the five Board members must be tribal members. The TGC operates as a non-profit exempt organization under Section 501(c)(2) of the Internal Revenue code.

Activities of the Tribal Gaming Commission include:

• establishing conditions for gaming such as hours of operation;
• ensuring compliance with existing laws;
• granting, suspending or revoking gaming licenses;
• conducting or initiating background checks on licensees and applicants;
• auditing records of gaming receipts;
• ensuring proper surveillance is conducted;
• investigating violations, criminal activities and patron disputes