Three different political systems have been proposed for the Teuchitlán Culture with the site of Los Guachimontones having a role in all three systems.
Phil Weigand and Christopher Beekman proposed the first in 1998 that consisted of a segmentary state model.
In this model, there is a concentrated core and a broad surrounding hinterland.
Within the core of the segmentary state, control is exerted through ceremonialism rather than political force.
The Tequila Valleys constitute the core of this segmentary state based on the number of sites with guachimontones and the size of the guachimontones.
Guachimontones located outside of the Tequila Valleys are then considered peripheral regions that exploited rare resources for the core.
Within the segmentary state, Weigand argued a settlement hierarchy existed between the major sites in the region.
Los Guachimontones was at the top of this proposed hierarchy.
Smaller, but still large sites, like Ahaululco, Navajas, and Santa Quiteria, would have provided further administrative control over the region.
Smaller sites were hypothesized act as loci for minor elite control or as a way to promote population cohesion.

Lorenza Lopez Mestas in 2011 proposed that the Teuchitlán Culture consisted of a collection of lineage or clan-based chiefdoms.
In this model, each ceremonial center in the Tequila Valleys was the site of a chiefdom.
These chiefdoms would have banded together in defense of the valleys but would have also engaged in conflict and trade with each other.
Lopez Mestas argued the primary mechanism of power that chiefs relied upon was their ability to engage in trade for exotic or prestigious goods, like jadeite and shell, from outside of the Tequila Valleys.
Chiefly power was not absolute, however, and was based upon consensus rather than coercion.
Failing to perform their necessary duties could result in a loss of power.
One mechanism to maintain power would have been feasting.
Lopez Mestas suggests that elites would try to convince commoners to donate artisan goods or domestic surplus to increase chiefly wealth and status.
With this newfound wealth and status, chiefs could then hold larger feasts and gain control over even more resources.

Beekman later proposed a new political structure for the Teuchitlán Culture.
He suggested a model in which Teuchitlán Culture centers were ruled by corporate groups composed of multiple lineages, clans, or elite families.
These corporate groups would have coopered together to form a broader collective governance.
Beekman’s model is based on his excavations at two smaller sites, Llano Grande and Navajas, and his examination of the architecture.
Irregularities within the construction of these structures suggest that separate labor groups were employed for construction, specifically the platforms of the guachimonton.
These differences likely indicate a form of competition and status signaling.

DeLuca tested this hypothesis of labor organization by quantifying the amount of labor that may have utilized to construct Circle 2 at Los Guachimontones.
An architectural energetics analysis of Circle 2 estimated that it would have taken 112,651.41 person-days to construct the entire building over six construction seasons.
The large amount of person-days is the result of the abundant use of clay for construction material.
The closest estimated source of clay for construction is about 1 kilometer away at the base of the hills Los Guachimontones is constructed upon.
DeLuca noted that great differences in volume size, construction methods, and estimated construction labor for each of the ten platforms.
This is in stark contrast to the relatively homogenous patio platform in which the other architectural features are built upon.
The combined labor to build the platforms was insufficient to construct the other features of Circle 2.
He suggested a dual model of labor organization to utilized both the cooperation and competition aspects of Beekman’s proposed model.
Within this dual labor organization model, people came together under a labor collective free from
Three different political systems have been proposed for the Teuchitlán Culture with the site of Los Guachimontones having a role in all three systems. Phil Weigand and Christopher Beekman proposed the first in 1998 that consisted of a segmentary state model. In this model, there is a concentrated core and a broad surrounding hinterland. Within the core of the segmentary state, control is exerted through ceremonialism rather than political force. The Tequila Valleys constitute the core of this segmentary state based on the number of sites with guachimontones and the size of the guachimontones. Guachimontones located outside of the Tequila Valleys are then considered peripheral regions that exploited rare resources for the core. Within the segmentary state, Weigand argued a settlement hierarchy existed between the major sites in the region. Los Guachimontones was at the top of this proposed hierarchy. Smaller, but still large sites, like Ahaululco, Navajas, and Santa Quiteria, would have provided further administrative control over the region. Smaller sites were hypothesized act as loci for minor elite control or as a way to promote population cohesion.
Lorenza Lopez Mestas in 2011 proposed that the Teuchitlán Culture consisted of a collection of lineage or clan-based chiefdoms. In this model, each ceremonial center in the Tequila Valleys was the site of a chiefdom. These chiefdoms would have banded together in defense of the valleys but would have also engaged in conflict and trade with each other. Lopez Mestas argued the primary mechanism of power that chiefs relied upon was their ability to engage in trade for exotic or prestigious goods, like jadeite and shell, from outside of the Tequila Valleys. Chiefly power was not absolute, however, and was based upon consensus rather than coercion. Failing to perform their necessary duties could result in a loss of power. One mechanism to maintain power would have been feasting. Lopez Mestas suggests that elites would try to convince commoners to donate artisan goods or domestic surplus to increase chiefly wealth and status. With this newfound wealth and status, chiefs could then hold larger feasts and gain control over even more resources.
Beekman later proposed a new political structure for the Teuchitlán Culture. He suggested a model in which Teuchitlán Culture centers were ruled by corporate groups composed of multiple lineages, clans, or elite families. These corporate groups would have coopered together to form a broader collective governance. Beekman’s model is based on his excavations at two smaller sites, Llano Grande and Navajas, and his examination of the architecture. Irregularities within the construction of these structures suggest that separate labor groups were employed for construction, specifically the platforms of the guachimonton. These differences likely indicate a form of competition and status signaling.
DeLuca tested this hypothesis of labor organization by quantifying the amount of labor that may have utilized to construct Circle 2 at Los Guachimontones. An architectural energetics analysis of Circle 2 estimated that it would have taken 112,651.41 person-days to construct the entire building over six construction seasons. The large amount of person-days is the result of the abundant use of clay for construction material. The closest estimated source of clay for construction is about 1 kilometer away at the base of the hills Los Guachimontones is constructed upon. DeLuca noted that great differences in volume size, construction methods, and estimated construction labor for each of the ten platforms. This is in stark contrast to the relatively homogenous patio platform in which the other architectural features are built upon. The combined labor to build the platforms was insufficient to construct the other features of Circle 2. He suggested a dual model of labor organization to utilized both the cooperation and competition aspects of Beekman’s proposed model. Within this dual labor organization model, people came together under a labor collective free from
Guachimontones