To maintain the unity of the soson, the independent rules called so okite (rules) were specified in yoriai, and if a member violated the rules, a jikendan (voluntary ruling and judgment) was sometimes implemented by the soson for the purpose of carrying out banishment, forfeiture of property, a bodily penalty or the death penalty.
惣村の結合を維持するため、寄合などで惣掟（そうおきて）という独自の規約を定め、惣掟に違反した場合は惣村自らが追放刑・財産没収・身体刑・死刑などを執行する自検断（じけんだん）が行われることもあった。