There was no central authority.

Every town acted just as it pleased, making war or peace with the other towns, or with whites, Choctaws, or Cherokees.

In each there was a nominal head for peace and war, the high chief and the head warrior; the former was supposed to be supreme, and was elected for life from some one powerful family--as, for instance, the families having for their totems the wind or the eagle.

But these chiefs had little control, and could not do much more than influence or advise their subjects; they were dependent on the will of the majority.

Each town was a little hotbed of party spirit; the inhabitants divided on almost every question.