The example of
the people of Tarentum is also well deserving of imitation, for, by
sharing the use of their own property with the poor, they gain their
good will. Moreover, they divide all their offices into two classes,
some of them being elected by vote, the others by lot; the latter,
that the people may participate in them, and the former, that the
state may be better administered. A like result may be gained by
dividing the same offices, so as to have two classes of magistrates,
one chosen by vote, the other by lot.
Enough has been said of the manner in which democracies ought to
be constituted.
VI
From these considerations there will be no difficulty in seeing what
should be the constitution of oligarchies. We have only to reason from
opposites and compare each form of oligarchy with the corresponding
form of democracy.
The first and best attempered of oligarchies is akin to a
constitutional government. In this there ought to be two standards
of qualification; the one high, the other low- the lower qualifying
for the humbler yet indispensable offices and the higher for the
superior ones. He who acquires the prescribed qualification should
have the rights of citizenship. The number of those admitted should be
such as will make the entire governing body stronger than those who
are excluded, and the new citizen should be always taken out of the
better class of the people.
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