ABSTRACT
This chapter shows how the growing autonomy of a residential group gives rise to the feature of constitutional politics -the attempt to change or reallocate recognized, 'constitutional' rights -which has already been noted as a characteristic of Banyang political life. It examines an attempt to support this situation by modern associational means, the 'Chiefs' Council', which, however, finally gives way in the face of disagreement at this wider level. The events themselves are first described as an on-going narrative before brief comments are made on the themes that the events illustrate. Although in this particular case the argument did not carry a great deal of conviction, its terms were plausible enough, for such agreements, as author have already shown, are not infrequently made to resolve disputes over succession.
