THE OFFICES · ELECTION 2026
The Offices — what the jobs are
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The real duties, powers, and qualifications for President and Council Delegate
A recurring theme in the candidate interviews is whether officials know their own job description. This page lays out what the two offices on the ballot actually do — and what the law requires of anyone who runs for them — so you can weigh any candidate against the real role rather than the campaign version of it. It is general civic-education information drawn from the Navajo Nation Code and the Navajo Election Administration; for official candidacy rules, always confirm with the Election Administration.
NAVAJO NATION PRESIDENTWhat the President does (duties & powers)
The President leads the Executive Branch. Under Title 2 of the Navajo Nation Code, the office's powers and duties include:
- Conduct, supervise, and coordinate the personnel and programs of the Navajo Nation.
- Oversee the executive divisions — such as Health, Economic Development, Social Services, Public Safety, and the Navajo EPA.
- Sign into law, or veto (including a line-item veto), legislation passed by the Council.
- Negotiate and execute contracts, subject to applicable law.
- Appoint supervisory executive personnel, and members of boards and commissions, subject to applicable law.
- Recommend an annual operating budget (or amendments) to the Budget and Finance Committee.
- Report quarterly to the Navajo Nation Council on the state of the Nation.
- Represent the Navajo Nation to other governments and agencies, and in protecting its sovereignty and treaty rights.
What it takes to run for President
- At least 30 years old by the general election.
- Enrolled member of the Navajo Nation on the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) agency census roll, and an active registered voter.
- Able to speak and understand Navajo and English — a fluency standard that, under the current qualification sheet, is judged by the Navajo voter at the ballot box.
- No felony conviction in the past five years, and no conviction in that period for misdemeanors involving dishonesty (such as bribery, embezzlement, fraud, forgery, perjury, or theft).
- Not under a federal grand jury indictment at filing (and disqualified if indicted afterward).
- May not hold permanent employment with, or elected office in, the U.S. government or any state or subdivision.
- Limited to two consecutive terms; four-year term. Filing fee: $1,500.
Note: a former three-year continuous-residency requirement is currently treated as inapplicable following Lee v. Nelson-Charley (2006), and a prior requirement of past elected service or Navajo Nation employment was set aside by Bennett v. Navajo Board of Election Supervisors (1990).
NAVAJO NATION COUNCIL DELEGATEWhat a Council Delegate does (duties & powers)
A Delegate is one of the 24 members of the Navajo Nation Council, the Legislative Branch. Under Title 2 of the Navajo Nation Code, the role includes:
- Vote to enact, amend, or repeal Navajo Nation law, and to approve or deny policy, funding requests, spending bills, and business agreements — the core power of the office.
- Represent the chapter or chapters in their precinct before the Council and the divisions.
- Serve on standing committees (each committee includes a member from each agency), where most legislation is shaped before it reaches the full Council.
- Abstain from any matter in which they have a personal, family, or business conflict of interest.
- Elect a Speaker from among the delegates every two years to run the Council's day-to-day business.
- Attend the four regular sessions each year (and special sessions); delegates absent from 60% of meeting days in a year may be censured and can have the seat declared vacant.
What it takes to run for Council Delegate
- At least 25 years old by the general election.
- Enrolled member of the Navajo Nation on the BIA agency census roll, and an active registered voter within the chapter or precinct they seek to represent.
- Able to speak and understand Navajo and/or English (a lower bar than the presidency).
- No felony conviction in the past five years, and no recent misdemeanor involving dishonesty.
- May not be permanently employed or elected by the U.S. government or any state or subdivision, and may not privately practice law while serving.
- No term limits; four-year term. Filing fee: $500.
Why this matters for voters
Many of the problems candidates describe — stalled projects, unspent funds, conflicts between branches — turn on whether an official uses the powers the office actually has. A delegate's power is a vote and a committee seat; a president's power is the veto, the budget recommendation, and control of the divisions. When a candidate promises something, a fair question is simply: is that within this office's authority, and which specific power would you use to do it?
See also: Acronyms & Key Terms · Candidate profiles
Sources: Navajo Nation Code, Title 2 (powers and duties of the President and Council); Navajo Nation Election Administration candidate qualification sheets, tied to Title 11 (Election Code). Court references: Lee v. Nelson-Charley (2006); Bennett v. Navajo Board of Election Supervisors (1990). Confirm current rules with the Navajo Election Administration.