The legislative body of the Bothan species, which governed the Bothan sector and held Allied Region status inside the Galactic Republic, was the Bothan Council, alternatively named the Combined Bothan Clans.
This council consisted of representatives from 608 officially registered clans, and other clans were seeking to join. All of Bothan Space was subject to the Council's legislative power. From among themselves, the Council chose a member to be the First Secretary, who was also known as the Council Chief. The Secretary's term was one year, and they could cast a tie-breaking vote. The Council also possessed the power to declare a state of ar'krai. During the era of the Galactic Civil War, Savielk Trey'dra was the leader of the Bothan Council, and it took over the majority of the other sections of the Bothan government, with the exception of the Bothan Diplomatic Corps, which stayed independent. Following the Galactic Civil War, it underwent a formal restructuring and expansion, transforming into a full-fledged government that was renamed the Combined Clans, although many continued to call it the Bothan Council. The Combined Clans Center Building near Merchant's Square in Drev'starn accommodated the offices of the Combined Clans' leaders.