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What Criteria Must Be Met for Federal Recognition of Tribal Status?

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This document contains testimony from the U.S. Office of Federal Acknowledgment regarding its criteria for federal tribal recognition. American Indian tribes who are federally recognized are eligible for additional rights and "inherent sovereignty."

What are the seven criteria for federal recognition? How are legal policies applied on a practical level? How might these policies be improved?

Source: Theresa Rosier, "What Criteria Must Be Met for Federal Recognition of Tribal Status?" Testimony before the Committee on Government Reform U.S. House of Representatives on the Federal Acknowledgment Process, Washington D.C. May 5, 2004, Mytwobeadsworth.com (Accessed August 10, 2009).