All these
modes are democratical.
On the other hand, that some should deliberate about all is
oligarchical. This again is a mode which, like the democratical has
many forms. When the deliberative class being elected out of those who
have a moderate qualification are numerous and they respect and obey
the prohibitions of the law without altering it, and any one who has
the required qualification shares in the government, then, just
because of this moderation, the oligarchy inclines towards polity. But
when only selected individuals and not the whole people share in the
deliberations of the state, then, although, as in the former case,
they observe the law, the government is a pure oligarchy. Or, again,
when those who have the power of deliberation are self-elected, and
son succeeds father, and they and not the laws are supreme- the
government is of necessity oligarchical. Where, again, particular
persons have authority in particular matters- for example, when the
whole people decide about peace and war and hold scrutinies, but the
magistrates regulate everything else, and they are elected by vote-
there the government is an aristocracy. And if some questions are
decided by magistrates elected by vote, and others by magistrates
elected by lot, either absolutely or out of select candidates, or
elected partly by vote, partly by lot- these practices are partly
characteristic of an aristocratical government, and party of a pure
constitutional government.
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