APPENDIX III
VENETIAN CONSTITUTION IN THE FIFTEENTH
AND SIXTEENTH CENTURIES
| Authorities.— | Daru, Histoire de la République de Venise, B. xxxix. |
| Brown, Venice, pp. 163, 177, 398; Venetian Studies, p. 178. |
I. The Great Council (Maggior Consiglio).
Confined by law of 1296 to the families of those who were then members (Serrata del Maggior Consiglio). The eligible had to be elected, but were, as a matter of fact, always elected. No one could take his seat until the age of twenty-five, with the exception of thirty who were elected every December, and a few specially allowed to do so, in return for loans lent to the State.
Its functions were chiefly Elective. All officials, and magistrates elected by it, except a few of the highest officers, e.g. the Savii Grandi, the Savii di Terra Firma, and the Admiral.
System of Election.—Nominators, chosen by lot in the Council, elected candidates—sometimes two, sometimes four—for the vacant office. The names of these candidates were then submitted to the Council, and the one who received most votes was declared elected.
The Great Council also originally enjoyed (a) some legislative powers, but these were gradually absorbed by the Senate; (b) judicial powers. On presentation by the College they tried commanders accused of negligence or incompetency.[87]
II. The Senate (Pregadi, i.e. the Invited), 246 in number:—
(a) Sixty elected in the Great Council for one year.