Aztec Government

Our government started out as a warrior ruler who gained authority over a region through battle. Once we had gained territory our society started a system kind of similar to European monarchy. The rules of each region, called tlatoani, determined the major rituals, guided warfare, protect the rights of commoners and nobility, and were patron to the poor. The governments were devoted and focused on their city-states, or altepetl. These city-states were communities created by territory gained through battles.  This system did not exert supreme authority on their territories,only expecting tributes to be paid and allowing those who proved themselves fit to rule in a warrior society to be seen as equal to the regions deity. Under a Kings rule there were many minor rulers, called Tlatoque, who owned private land and had wealth that ranked them as lower nobility. They controlled the tributes that had to be payed to the king.
The empire is discontinuous because not all of their territories were connected. Local rulers were given their positions once their city-states were conquered and the Aztec people didn't interfere with local issues. They just expected their tribute payments to be made.
The city-states created alliances with each other, depending on each other for military and political protection. Rulers governed their domain independently and throughout the 14th and 15th century they would shift their alliances with different states. By the 16th century the Aztecs created the Triple Alliance which brought them together as a community.