Opinion ID: 1354957
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Infringement upon Self-Government and Federal Preemption

Text: Through time and with the checkerboard development of Indian with non-Indian fee ownership, this strict territorial approach later proved awkward to apply. [32] Although some adherence to the immunity doctrine continues, [33] the strict territorial approach applied earlier has largely given way to two other tests developed by the United States Supreme Court since 1959 for assessment of Indian Country's amenability to state law: [34] infringement upon tribal self-government and preemption by federal action. The infringement test allows state jurisdiction in cases not involving tribal self-government. [35] Preemption analysis recognizes inherent Indian sovereignty as a backdrop against which the applicable treaties and federal statutes must be read, [36] but focuses on whether the state has been granted jurisdiction by the federal government. [37] Because of the many interests at stake, and because the traditional concept of tribal sovereignty could invalidate legitimate state authority, state regulatory interests must also be considered. [38]