---
kind: "section"
citation: "25 C.F.R. § 83.43"
title: "25"
number: "83.43"
heading: "How will the Assistant Secretary make the determination decision?"
url: "https://uscodex.org/cfr/25/83.43"
---

# §83.43. How will the Assistant Secretary make the determination decision?

- (a) AS-IA will issue a final determination granting acknowledgment as a federally recognized Indian tribe when AS-IA finds that the petitioner meets the Governing Document ([§ 83.11(d)](/cfr/25/83.11.md?p=d)), Descent ([§ 83.11(e)](/cfr/25/83.11.md?p=e)), Unique Membership ([§ 83.11(f)](/cfr/25/83.11.md?p=f)), and Congressional Termination ([§ 83.11(g)](/cfr/25/83.11.md?p=g)) Criteria and:
  - (1) Demonstrates previous Federal acknowledgment under [§ 83.12(a)](/cfr/25/83.12.md?p=a) and meets the criteria in [§ 83.12(b)](/cfr/25/83.12.md?p=b); or
  - (2) Meets the Indian Entity Identification ([§ 83.11(a)](/cfr/25/83.11.md?p=a)), Community ([§ 83.11(b)](/cfr/25/83.11.md?p=b)) and Political Authority ([§ 83.11(c)](/cfr/25/83.11.md?p=c)) Criteria.
- (b) AS-IA will issue a final determination declining acknowledgement as a federally recognized Indian tribe when he/she finds that the petitioner:
  - (1) In Phase I, does not meet the Governing Document ([§ 83.11(d)](/cfr/25/83.11.md?p=d)), Descent ([§ 83.11(e)](/cfr/25/83.11.md?p=e)), Unique Membership ([§ 83.11(f)](/cfr/25/83.11.md?p=f)), or Congressional Termination ([§ 83.11(g)](/cfr/25/83.11.md?p=g)) Criteria: or
  - (2) **In Phase II, does not—**
    - (i) Demonstrate previous Federal acknowledgment under [§ 83.12(a)](/cfr/25/83.12.md?p=a) and meet the criteria in [§ 83.12(b)](/cfr/25/83.12.md?p=b); or
    - (ii) Meet the Indian Entity Identification ([§ 83.11(a)](/cfr/25/83.11.md?p=a)), Community ([§ 83.11(b)](/cfr/25/83.11.md?p=b)) and Political Authority ([§ 83.11(c)](/cfr/25/83.11.md?p=c)) Criteria.

## Notes

### Authority

Authority: 5 U.S.C. 301; 25 U.S.C. 2, 9, 5131; 25 U.S.C. 5130 note (Congressional Findings); and 43 U.S.C. 1457.

### Source

Source: 80 FR 37887, July 1, 2015, unless otherwise noted.