[T]here are Chiefs among them, but the Chiefs have no authority; if they should use threats, far from making themselves feared, they would see themselves abandoned by the very men who had chosen them for Chiefs. (Marest, 1712) Illinois Indians visiting New Orleans, 1735.

A society can be defined as a population of humans (or other animals) that has an organized way of life. Among humans, societies provide rules or guidelines for appropriate behavior that help guard against chaos and social upheaval. Social rules are passed down from generation to generation and affect many different aspects of human behavior, including marriage, kinship, political leadership, the social status of individuals, recreational activities, and relationships with other societies.

Illinois society was traditionally egalitarian, which means that all individuals had more-or-less equal access to resources and political power. Political leaders (chiefs) were influential individuals chosen based on their ability to maintain social well-being. Although chiefs were important people in Illinois society, tribal decisions were reached by consensus and the chief wielded little power or authority over tribal members. However, this tradition began to change in the late 1600s, when French officials began awarding medals to Illinois chiefs and insisted that they take responsibility for the actions of tribal members. By the 1760s, political power had become centralized in the office of chief and elevation of a new chief required the approval of colonial authorities.