Why could Babylonian citizens petition Ashurbanipal directly during Shamash-shum-ukin’s rule?

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Lion Hunt of Ashurbanipal — Ashurbanipal Ashurbanipal depicted in a lion hunt in an Assyrian relief from his northern palace in Nineveh; now in the British Museum.

During the rule of Shamash-shum-ukin in Babylonia, Babylonian citizens were able to petition Ashurbanipal directly because, although Shamash-shum-ukin was the local ruler, he held only restricted powers.1

The Assyrian king maintained significant control over the region, as Assyrian garrisons and officials stationed in Babylonia continued to report directly to him. Furthermore, Ashurbanipal retained the authority to appoint governors in areas such as the Sealand and Ur, effectively keeping the administration of the territory under his oversight. This dual structure allowed citizens to bypass the local sub-king and appeal to the Assyrian monarch, who would grant them land and address their concerns.1