no political office above the level of the local community (variable 1730 coded as 1,2, or 3 (original code 88)
selection of officials at the lowest level of political hierarchy independent of higher-ranking officials
selection of officials at the lowest level of political hierarchy within local community, but it has to be reconfirmed by higher-ranking officials
officials at the lowest level of political hierarchy are determined by higher-ranking officials

no formal political office present (variable 1740 coded as 1) (original code 88)
decision making at the highest level of political authority independent of lower-ranking levels, groups, or individuals
decisions at the highest level of political authority are made after consultation with representatives of lower-ranking levels, groups, or individuals
lower-ranking individuals or group representatives fully participate in decision making at the highest level of political authority, they are members of the decision making body

no formal political office present (variable 1740 coded as 1) (original code 88)
religious specialists have no influence on decision making at the level of maximal political authority
religious specialists participate in decision making at the level of maximal political authority
officials at the level of maximal political authority are at the same time religious specialists

no formal political office present (variable 1740 coded as 1) (original code 88)
office holder belongs to privileged descent group
office holder elected by the represented group
office holder elected by subordinate authorities
office inherited
seniority
office holder installed by overarching administration, e.g. colonial power
other sources of legitimation
multiple sources of legitimation; more than one of the above (original code 77)

no differences in access to economic resources, political power, and/or status
differences in access to economic resources, political power, and/or status, not resulting in class formation
two classes
complex stratification into more than two classes