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So the Commissioners drafted these proposals; and these being ratified, the Five Thousand elected a hundred of their members as a committee to draw up the constitution. This committee drew up and published the following resolutions: [2] 'The Council to consist of members over thirty years of age holding office for a year and drawing no pay; these members to include the Generals, the Nine Archons, the Sacred Remembrancer,1 the Company-commanders,2 Officers of the Horse,3 Officers of Tribes4 and officers in command of the Guards,5 the Treasurers of the Sacred Funds of the Goddess6 and the ten Treasurers of the other gods, the Greek Treasurers,7 and twenty Treasurers of all the secular funds as well, who shall manage them,8 and Sacrificial Officers and Superintendents, ten of each; and the Council to elect all of these from a larger preliminary list of candidates proposed by it from its members at the time, but all other offices to be elected by lot and not from the Council; and the Greek Treasurers9 that are to manage the funds not to be members of the Council. [3] And four Councils to be formed for the future from persons of the stated age, and a division of these selected by lot to officiate, but the others also to be included in each such selection. And the Hundred Men to divide themselves and the others10 into four divisions as nearly equal as possible, and to cast lots among them, and those on whom the lot falls to form the Council for a year. [4] And the Council to frame such resolutions as may seem to them likely to be best to secure the safe preservation of the funds and their expenditure upon necessary objects, and about the other affairs to the best of their ability; and in case of their desiring to consider some matter with added numbers, each member to summon as a co-opted member anybody of the same age as himself that he may wish. To hold the sittings of the Council every five days, unless more sittings are required. [5] The Council to elect the Nine Archons by lot. The tellers to be five persons elected by lot from the Council, and one of these to be chosen by lot to serve daily as putter of the question. And the five tellers elected to cast lots among those who desire an audience of the Council, first about matters of religion, second for Heralds, third for embassies, fourth about other business; but whenever questions relating to war need consideration they are to introduce the Generals without casting lots and take their business. [6] A member of the Council not coming to the Council-chamber at the time previously announced to be liable to a fine of a drachma for each day, unless he obtain leave of absence from the Council.'

1 The secretary or registrar who with the actual representative, the Pylagoras, was sent by Athens, as by the other members, to the Amphictyonic Council.

2 See Aristot. Ath. Pol. 61.3.

3 See Aristot. Ath. Pol. 4.

4 See Aristot. Ath. Pol. 5.

5 See Aristot. Ath. Pol. 24.3.

6 Athena.

7 This contradicts the end of the section, and the text seems to be corrupt.

8 This clause seems to be interpolated from below.

9 The managers of the funds paid as tribute by the Confederacy of Delos.

10 i.e. the rest of the Five Thousand.

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hide References (4 total)
  • Cross-references in notes from this page (4):
    • Aristotle, Constitution of the Athenians, 24.3
    • Aristotle, Constitution of the Athenians, 4
    • Aristotle, Constitution of the Athenians, 5
    • Aristotle, Constitution of the Athenians, 61.3
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