Final answer:
Option (B), The governance structure of the Mississippians who lived in towns governed by chiefs residing atop large mounds is termed 'Chiefdom organization'.
Step-by-step explanation:
The term that describes the governance structure of the Mississippians, who lived in towns governed by chiefs that resided in religious centers atop large earthen mounds, is B) Chiefdom organization. Mississippians organized their society into chiefdoms, where chiefs and a noble class were at the top of a social hierarchy, and the chiefdoms often featured large, intricately constructed earthen mounds. These mounds were central to religious and political life, serving as burial sites, temples, residences for the elite, and symbols of the chief's authority.
The Mississippian culture, known for its moundbuilding, was a highly stratified society with sharp social distinctions. They constructed elaborate earthen mounds for various purposes, including ceremonial and political centers, such as the impressive mound at Cahokia. The chiefs often lived on top of these mounds, thus emphasizing their elevated status within the Mississippian society.
Cahokia illustrates the Mississippian society's complex urban settlements and trade networks that extended far beyond their immediate region. The influence of Mississippian culture and its chiefdom organization had lasting regional significance and illustrates the complexity of pre-Columbian societies in North America.