(1) The Tribal Council shall exercise all legislative and executive authority of the Tribe except that legislative authority reserved to the General Council. Specific authority of the Tribal Council shall include, but not be limited to, the authority to prevent the loss of tribal trust lands, interests in trust lands, or other tribal assets without the consent of the General Council; the authority to negotiate with Tribal, Federal, State and other governments and to deal with such governments on a government-to-government basis; the authority to exclude persons from tribal lands; and the authority to pursue against the federal government or any other government entity or person any claims for compensation, damages or other relief the Samish Indian Nation or its members may have. The authority to acquire, encumber or disposed of non-trust lands or other assets shall remain with the Tribal Council.

(2) The Tribal Council shall have the power to appoint subordinate committees and representatives, to transact and conduct business and otherwise speak or act on behalf of the Tribe in all matters on which the Tribe is empowered to act now or in the future, and to hire and employ legal counsel to represent the Tribe.