It has been stated above that not only did "adat" include tradition, custom, convention and law, but it also included a kind of social structure. The social structure bound by a common "adat" was typified by small-scale communities of people in villages or of nomads wandering over a specific area. These communities were rather like miniature democratic republics. Their headmen were elected from the descendants of the oldest branch of the tribe, and they saw to the needs and interests of the community, assisted by a council of elders. Really important decisions were taken by collective deliberations, called as "mupakat". Naturally in a democracy of this type, in which a premium is put on unanimity of opinions, the position of the "balai" was extremely important. This was the building in which meetings and discussions were held. We can think them as the centers of social life within these small communities (Alisjahbana 1961:14-15).