The citizens were all considered equal, although those with the ability to speak well were highly regarded and held more power in council.
[2] The Cherokee people as a whole were historically connected by a decentralized and loose confederacy of towns, villages, and settlements, each run by a "First Beloved Man"—the Uku.
[3] Although this person was not a chief in the literal sense, he was respected by the inhabitants, who deferred to the First Beloved Man in dealings with other towns and settlements, and other tribes or peoples.
[2][5] This war chief, or skiagusta, became the supreme leader of the warriors and responsible for directing hostilities towards the enemy.
[2] A war chief who was thought spiritually impure or was not successful on the battlefield was considered out of favor with the divine powers, and would be quickly replaced.