It seems to me that there is a reasonably close parallel to Ministerial appointments in British politics. The next general election may be years off but a Minister who is too unpopular may still be sent back to the Back Benches.
There may not be much formal democracy but I have no doubt that Heortlings can and will make life quite unpleasant for a chief who makes too many unpopular decisions ("No one can make you do anything", "There is always another way" and even "Violence is always an option" suggest the sort of thinking).
There ought to be definite story possibilities in a chief trying to keep someone on the Ring despite protests from the clan.
-- -- "The T'ang emperors were strong believers in the pills of immortality. More emperors died of poisoning from ingesting minerals in the T'ang than in any other dynasty" - Eva Wong _The Shambhala Guide to Taoism_ Paul K.
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