[clarification needed] Under this system, the elders, known as the xeer begti, serve as mediator judges and help settle court cases, taking precedent and custom into account.
Somali society is traditionally structured around a patriarchal clan based system, subdivided into sub-clans, then lineages, and finally mag groupings.
In these groups, each member is responsible aiding in the payment for the crimes of another and must accordingly bear some fraction of any decided punishment if the accused cannot afford to do so themselves.
These family heads are chosen for their knowledge of the law and wisdom, but otherwise, there is no formal training, and each judge is allowed to formulate their own doctrines and legal principles.
[2] Each party has the right to appoint a representative to speak on its behalf while a recorder loudly repeats any important points that are made.
Should proceedings become heated, the presiding judge may order a recess, wherein both parties discuss issues relating to the case in small informal groups.
[2] Despite this informal nature, there is a series of generally accepted principles, agreements, and ideas that constitute xeer, referred to collectively as "xissi adkaaday".