[Agora Webpage] Birth of Democracy: Political Organization of Attica

http://agathe.gr/democracy/political_organization_of_attica.html

Political Organization of Attica: Demes and Tribal Representation Each tribe was divided into three parts, and each third (trittys) was from one of the three regions of Attica, plain, coast, or hills ... These rectangular clay plaques cut with one jagged edge were probably used in connection with allotment of a deme office. ... The tokens were cut before firing in the kiln and would have been reunited in the process of allotting the deme office. ... Athens, Agora Museum I 7030. Found inside the remains of the South Stoa, this inscription is a record of the metronomoi, the inspectors of weights and measures, of whom Aristotle wrote in the Athenian Constitution (51.2): "There are ten metronomoi appointed by lot, five for the city and five for Piraeus.

[Agora Webpage] Birth of Democracy: The Ekklesia

http://agathe.gr/democracy/the_ekklesia.html

The Ekklesia (Citizens' Assembly) All Athenian citizens had the right to attend and vote in the Ekklesia, a full popular assembly which met about every 10 days. All decrees (psephismata) were ratified ... In phase I (about 500 B.C.) the Pnyx utilized the natural slope of the hillside, but either political concerns or the exposure of the seating area to northeast winds made a reversal of the structure necessary. ... Visible today are the foundation of the curved retaining wall of the auditorium of phase III and the rock-cut bema (stand for speakers), which projects from the scarp.