Opinion ID: 733385
Heading Depth: 4
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Secretarial inquiry into state law

Text: 53 The Tribes further argue that our interpretation places the Secretary in an untenable position, requiring that he determine with certainty whether or not a compact presented for approval is fully 'valid' ... that is, executed by a state official with actual state law authority. Appellants' Br. in Chief at 20. We do not agree. IGRA makes it clear that the Secretary must approve a compact within 45 days. 25 U.S.C. § 2710(d)(8)(C). We agree with the Tribes that Congress did not intend to force the Secretary to make extensive inquiry into state law to determine whether the person or entity signing the compact for the state in fact had the authority to do so. However, that does not mean that consequences should not flow, such as a determination that the compact is invalid, if it turns out that the state has not validly bound itself to the compact. Indeed, as Secretary Babbitt said in a letter to Senator Jeff Bingaman of New Mexico, concerning the compacts at issue in this case: 54 We agree that compacts between Indian tribes and states are valid only if entered into by the appropriate State officials. However, given IGRA's 45-day time constraint and the automatic approval provision, we do not believe that Congress contemplated that the Department would address or resolve complex issues of State law raised by an internal challenge to a Governor's authority. In this regard, we must defer to the representations of Governors, as the Chief Executive Officers of their states, unless it is clear beyond cavil that a Governor lacks the authority to sign a compact. 55 Ex. 120, Appellants' App. Vol. IV at A1271. As the Secretary observes, a compact is not valid unless properly authorized, but the Secretary is not expected to resolve state law issues regarding that authority in the 45-day period given to him to approve a compact.