- Tribal groups like Khasi, Jaintia and Garo have their own traditional political institutions.
- These institutions are fairly well developed and function at various tiers such village, clan and state level.
- In the traditional political system of the Khasis each clan has its own council called Durbar Kur presided over by the clan headman.
- A large chunk of tribal areas lie outside the provision of 73rd amendment as the policy makers did not wish to interfere with the traditional tribal institutions.