The Institutions of Athenian Democracy

The Ekklesia ‘Assembly of the people’ All male Athenian citizens over the age of 18 Met 40 times a year/c.every 9 days. Met at the Pnyx hill, overlooking the Agora Speakers stood on a rock platform called the Bema Anyone could speak All had an equal vote on every law Voting by show of hands (or sometimes black and white pebbles)

Powers of the Ekklesia All decisions made (ARD 120 & 121) All new laws passed Only way to power was to convince the Ekklesia time and again (ARD 142)

Restrictions on the Ekklesia Use of Lot The Ekklesia couldn’t choose magistrates Jury Courts Didn’t judge cases Code of Laws Could not override the Laws Agenda Could only discuss matters on the Agenda (ARD 119) (but could require Boule to include in the next meeting) Restrictions on business Each Meeting has a defined format

“The Ekklesia was the embodiment of Athenian democracy “The Ekklesia was the embodiment of Athenian democracy. It gave the people a direct share in government. In routine matters it relied directly on the Boule, but the most important decisions were fully debated” (Oxford Classical Dictionary)

The Boule Council of 500 (50 from each tribe) (ARD 152) All male citizens over 30 eligible Members chosen by lot In office for a year, then not again for 10 years Could not be on the Boule more than twice (ARD 170) Met every day in the Bouleterion (ARD 166)

Duties of the Boule Draw up agenda for meetings of the Ekklesia (ARD 155) Receive ambassadors and embassies Supervise officials (ARD 158) Check candidates for office (ARD 172) Check accounts of officials Overall charge of triremes, dockyards etc (ARD 156)

Restrictions on the Boule Election by Lot Changed every year (Therefore not a ‘career move’ for aspiring politicians) Power lies with the Ekklesia (Boule more ‘civil service’ than government)

“The Boule was the keystone of the democratic constitution; without its assistance in the formation and execution of policy the Ekklesia could never have exercised its sovereignty wisely and effectively” (Oxford Classical Dictionary)

The Prytaneis Standing council 50 men from each tribe for one tenth of the year On permanent call Ate (and slept?) at state expense in Tholos (next to Bouleterion) Elected one of number each day as Chairman Chaired meetings of Boule and Ekklesia See ARD 173

The Magistrates Officials appointed by lot in boards of 5 or 10 (ARD 201) All male citizens over 30 eligible Appointed for one year Paid At end of year of office, conduct examined by Boule; could be prosecuted in Heliaia Only magistrates elected by vote rather than by lot were financial officials and the ‘strategoi’

Strategoi Generals One elected per tribe (ARD 189 & 190) Later possibly more flexible (ie not in tribes) Not paid Could be re-elected (ARD 192) Not just military commanders – influential in the Ekklesia Therefore the only way to build a political career.

The Law Courts Heliaia = Peoples’ court All male citizens over 30 eligible (ARD 207) c.500 on jury Paid for jury service (ARD 205 & 213) No judges – presiding magistrates No lawyers – accuser and defendant made own speeches Speeches timed by a water clock

Choosing the jury List of jurors drawn up at start of year (c.6000) Jury chosen on day of a trial Each jury man had a ballot, which he put into a slot in a machine called a kleroterion. If a white ball came out he was chosen; if black, not. The machine is on show in the Agora museum in Athens.

Presiding magistrates Different magistrates presided over different sorts of cases: Family and inheritance The Eponymous Archon Religious cases The Archon Basileus Military and naval service The Strategoi Theft and similar offences The Hendeka Non-Athenians The Polemarch Any other public case The Thesmothetai Murder trials The Areopagus

The verdict Decision by majority vote (Equal vote = acquittal) Voting at first by pebbles into urn for guilty or innocent Then specially designed ballots – solid axle for innocent, hollow for guilty. Enabled more secret vote. Prosecutor and defendant both proposed penalties Jury had to decide between them. Worst penalty = death; otherwise fines, banishment, stocks etc. No long prison sentences.