These are the various forms of the deliberative body; they
correspond to the various forms of government. And the government of
each state is administered according to one or other of the principles
which have been laid down. Now it is for the interest of democracy,
according to the most prevalent notion of it (I am speaking of that
extreme form of democracy in which the people are supreme even over
the laws), with a view to better deliberation to adopt the custom of
oligarchies respecting courts of law. For in oligarchies the rich
who are wanted to be judges are compelled to attend under pain of a
fine, whereas in deinocracies the poor are paid to attend. And this
practice of oligarchies should be adopted by democracies in their
public assemblies, for they will advise better if they all
deliberate together- the people with the notables and the notables
with the people. It is also a good plan that those who deliberate
should be elected by vote or by lot in equal numbers out of the
different classes; and that if the people greatly exceed in number
those who have political training, pay should not be given to all, but
only to as many as would balance the number of the notables, or that
the number in excess should be eliminated by lot. But in oligarchies
either certain persons should be co-opted from the mass, or a class of
officers should be appointed such as exist in some states who are
termed probuli and guardians of the law; and the citizens should
occupy themselves exclusively with matters on which these have
previously deliberated; for so the people will have a share in the
deliberations of the state, but will not be able to disturb the
principles of the constitution.
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