Chapter 362: Announcement of New Acts
Chapter 362: Announcement of New Acts
Davos’ words made everyone in the square ponder, causing them to began whispering with each other. Some intelligent people realise that the wise archon would not raise such a sensitive topic at this sensitive moment without reason, so they believe that he would announce something exciting.
As expected, Davos raised his tone and continued, “The Senate, as the highest authority in Theonia and the leader of the citizens, after this event, had immediately reviewed and reflected on itself. So after a repeated discussion and amendments, we had passed the 《Theonian Local Council Act》 this morning.”
The whole square stirred up.
“Be quiet! Be quiet!” Davos gestured and exclaimed, “Listen carefully. You can discuss it after I finish. Otherwise, you will miss the key point, and I won’t repeat it the second time.”
After another burst of laughter from the crowd, they all stare at Davos and raise their ears for fear that they will miss every word, making the square quiet.
“This act allows each city in Theonia Union to establish its own local council, with the citizens of each demo (this is an administrative unit that Theonia established, which is lower than the city and is formed by merging several villages) electing its own council through an election. The basic requirement is to elect one local statesman for every 300 citizens. First of all, they must be Theonian citizens, who have served in the military, have no tax evasion and criminal record, and have performed well. Then these elected members would form the local council of that city to assist the praetor in formulating local laws and regulations and supervising the work of the officials. The term of office of the local statesmen is two years, and the election would be held during the winter break. Moreover, after the autumn harvest every year, at the end of October, the local statesmen of each city will elect a delegation to attend the Senate’s assembly in Thurii. They would listen to the statesmen’s summary of the development of Theonia for that year, and to put forward their own opinions and participate in revising Theonia’s code of law and the formulation of the new law…”
As soon as Davos said this, the whole square began to boil: The Senate of Theonia finally gave ordinary citizens the right to participate in and discuss politics!
Tios and Dicaepolis looked at each other as they thought of the same thing. Davos had solved the problem that they were worried about yesterday, and those merchants who heard the news would probably give up their decision to leave Theonia…
Just like the rest of the crowd, they were also excited.
However, they saw that Davos was still standing on the platform and shouting, “Be quiet! Be quiet! I am still not done yet!”
Through the shouting of dozens of soldiers repeating Davos’ words, the crowd who heard this immediately reminded each other, “The archon still has some else to say!…”
The crowd immediately suppressed their excitement and held their breath, hoping to hear more good news from Davos.
“Theonia Union is different from other city-states, with the Senate directly governing many cities and leading hundreds of thousands of people. But because of too many matters and having too large of a territory, the Senate can’t achieve comprehensive and strict supervision. That is why we couldn’t make sure that each official of the cities is fair and honest, allowing the likes of Pollux, Ariphes and the other criminals who embezzled the public property of the union to appear. But now, the situation would be much better with the help of the local councils’ governance and supervision, but-”
Davos changed his topic, “All Theonian citizens can be elected as local statesmen, including those who have served as officials of the union and those who have stepped down as statesmen and had then taken up public office in the city-state. But I am afraid that some problems would arise after some time had passed.”
After Davos stopped talking, some people in the crowd immediately asked with curiosity, “Milord, what would be the problems?!”
“Aren’t you worried that the statesmen and officials would collude again for money and power?” This statement was like pouring a basin of cold water on the crowd, which made them ponder deeply.
“Lord Davos should not speculate about the future local councillors in such an attitude.” Raphias, who has been holding the position as Chief Census Officer, whispered his own opinion.
“No, I think it’s the opposite.” Justice Tritodemos, who had just arrived, retorted, “With lord Davos thinking up the worst possible thing that may occur, it allowed him to enact corresponding laws to protect them and prevent some people from becoming the second coming of Pollux. As what the Theonian Law wants to achieve is, to deter the population and make them obey the law, rather than catching more criminals.”
At this time, Davos said in a loud voice, “For this reason, I propose that the Senate would discuss and pass the Theonian Tribunus Plebis Act.”
Tribunus Plebis Act? The crowd were puzzled by this unfamiliar term.
Compared with the slow reaction of the crowd, the expression of the statesmen on the staircase changed. Even Kunogelata, who has always been calm, sighed helplessly, “Today is truly the day of victory for the civilians!”
“This is a good thing!” Cornelius said happily, “I have misunderstood lord Davos. I did not expect that he would make such a big concession once he made up his mind to let the citizens participate in politics!”
Marigi, who was listening to the comments of the statesmen around him, sneered in his heart.
“This act allows the demos of various cities to elect for a tribune, no more than ten tribunal officers per city, for a term of two years, and the tribunus plebis – as you know from the name – is an official task to protect the civilians. In order to join the tribunus plebis, one must not hold any official post and vowed that he would not hold any official post in the future. Naturally, they must be exceptional citizens who have served in the military, paid their taxes on time, and has no criminal record. Their task is to supervise and expose the illegal activities of the officials and members of the council. And suppose they found that the local laws and regulations are detrimental to the interests of the public. In that case, they could amend it after consulting with the local statesmen and even reject it. The Senate will also give the tribunal officers the privilege of ‘Personal Inviolability’ during their tenure unless they themselves committed a felony in which they would be sentenced to a heavier penalty! During the annual winter break, the tribunus plebis of each city will elect representatives who will come to Thurii together with the local council’s delegates to report and make recommendations to the archon of Theonia and the highest Chief Inspector and justices… The detailed texts of the two important acts, the Theonian Local Council Act and the Theonian Tribunus Plebis Act, will be posted on the notice wall for you to read carefully later.” (The notice wall is a few walls built under the stairs of the Senate Hall under the proposal of Davos the year before last. So that when a new bill is passed, or a new order is issued in the Senate, the notice will then be posted on the wall, allowing the people to take time in understanding and learning it.)
When Davos finished speaking, an eerie quietness suddenly fell over the square. The crowd seemed to be unable to believe that what they heard is true. After all, just yesterday, they were still angry about the corruption of the statesmen, arguing whether to protest in the Grand Senate Hall to allow the convening of an ecclesia. However, they now suddenly have the right to participate and the power to supervise, especially the position of tribunal officers.
The people still think that they are dreaming. Some had even asked Davos, “Milord, is this true?”
Davos smiled and said, “Don’t you believe what I said?!”
Due to this, jubilation filled the square, and the ecstasy in the hearts of the people was far more than watching a rugby match, taking a dip in the large hot spring bath, or even attending Hades’ Day, as power and freedom is the natural desire of human beings.
Those with rich experience have a clearer idea that even in a democratic city-state such as Athens, most of their people could only vote for the strategoi as the people in power are always the wealthy citizens and nobles. After all, the ordinary citizens had to run around all day for their living, so where could they get money to get an education? How can they have the time to deal with the politics of the city-states? When the nobles and the rich rule the city-state, would they even consider the ordinary people? The answer is self-evident. But now, in Theonia Union, the archon and the Senate had taken the initiative to hand over some of their rights to the civilians, allowing them to intervene in the implementation of the laws and regulations directly and to investigate those who have broken the laws among the officials. Thus how could they not be overjoyed?!
“Long live Theonia!!!”
“Long live, lord Davos!!!”
These two heartfelt cheers rumble over the square like the alternating waves in the sea until they rang out throughout the city.
‘A new era has come!’ Thought Davos as he stood still in the centre of the turbulent waves: The Senate with its legislative power, the parliament with its political power, the tribunal with its supervisory power, checking each other and creating a balance, which achieves the initial political structure he envisions. So, where is his position?
Davos looked at the sun that began to set, warm but not hot, eye-catching but not dazzling…
. . . . . . . . . . . . .
In Syracuse, the Theonian envoy headed by Ansitanos had been staying here for several days already.
“Teacher, I have made some inquiries.” Henipolis hurriedly went into the room and said angrily to Ansitanos, “The news about Dionysius returning long ago that we received before we arrived was indeed correct. And yesterday, some people had witnessed Dionysius go to the port to meet the second wave of Carthaginian envoys, yet he did not come to see us for five days. What does he mean by this?! As the envoy of Theonia, this is simply an insult to our Theonia Union! Teacher, let’s not wait any longer. Let’s go back to Thurii and tell the Senate of how Dionysius humiliated us!”