The political system of the Hausa kingdom was highly centralized and feudalistic in nature. The kingdom had a thoroughly worked out system of law administration both at the central and local government levels.
A Sarki (King) was in charge of the central government and he resided in the capital city which was usually a part of one of the villages of the kingdom.
The Sarki also had other dignitaries who were assigned some specific duties. They were: Waziri (Prime Minister), Madawaki (Army Commander), Dogari (Chief Head of Police), Maaji (Head of Security), Alkali (Chief Judge of the Sharia Court), Galadima (the administrator in charge of the capital city; he could also act as a deputy to the king), Yari (the Director of prisons). Others include the Sarkin Fada, Sarkin Pawa, and Sarkin Ruwa who were heads of palace workers, all butchers, and fishing and water resources respectively.
At the local government level, there were villages that had traditional heads which were appointed either by the Sarki or by royal family members. The villages were independent of each other but acknowledged the existence of the Sarki who resided in the capital city.