The Council of 500

The council of 500 was the government of Ancient Athens.

• The Council was known as the "Boule"
• They met at the Bouleuterion, also known as the "Agora" Picture above left

The City of Ancient Athens was divided into 10 different tribes

• From each tribe, there would be 50 members of council who were over 30 years old.
• They would represent their tribe for one tenth of the year, so all citizens from each tribe would get a chance to be a member/councillor of government
• So all citizens would get an equal chance to be a councillor/member, the ancient Athenians made rules so that everyone got a chance:
  1. A councillor's position would be chosen through a lottery, so everyone got an equal chance of being picked. Voting for councillors was considered unfair because some citizens would be favored over others
  2. Citizens could only serve for council two times, so everyone got a chance. Whether they were very responsible or irresponsible councilors, everyone would get the same time to be a councillor

The leader of the council, called the chairman,would hold his position for a day, so every citizen got a fair chance.

• There would always be 50 councillors who would plan and help the chairman on his daily buisnesses
• These 50 councillors lived in the Tholos. Picture above right
• Each time they would meet, the council planned an agenda, similar to the ones read in the chamber of provincial government
• The councillors would discuss and vote on orders (decrees) and then present them to the assembly. No laws or orders would be passed without majority vote