Clan System
See also: Jat clan system and Gotras of JatsThe Jat people have always organized themselves into hundreds of patrilineage clans, Panchayat system or Khap. A clan was based on one small gotra or a number of related gotras under one elected leader whose word was law.
In addition to the conventional Sarva Khap Panchayat, there are regional Jat Mahasabhas affiliated to the All India Jat Mahasabha to organize and safeguard the interests of the community, which held its meeting at regional and national levels to take stock of their activities and devise practical ways and means for the amelioration of the community.
Some of the Jat clan names overlap with other groups. Jat clans have been compiled by several historians, such as Ompal Singh Tugania, Bhaleram Beniwal. and Mahendra Singh Arya. These lists have more than 2700 Jat gotras. Thakur Deshraj and Dilip Singh Ahlawat have mentioned history of some of Jat gotras.
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