A bit more on history: The idea for the United States, whereas the states kept sovereignty over many matters within their borders but joined together for major matters, like war and trade that affected the whole, was copied from the Iroquois Indians tribal model. A few differences between the Iroquois and the white guys is that the Iroquois required all decisions to be decided unanimously, and while only men served on the council, only women were allowed to vote for whom was on the council.