In Book VI of Politics Aristotle explores the constitution and functioning of democracy in greater detail, also taking into consideration its ideological opposite, oligarchy. There are various kinds of democracy, and variations of this form of government can be created by different combinations of the elements of self rule. The form of governance is to be tailored to suit particular cities or populations.
Democracy does not imply the ability to do as one pleases, but to rule and be ruled in turn, that is, according to the general will of the population. Liberty based on equality is the basic tenet of democratic constitutions, and the majority holds authority over the state, which means that the poor are more powerful than the rich by virtue of outnumbering them. However, if public opinion is equally divided, the side with more merit or value shall win over the other.
A democracy is characterised by paid offices of government, with limited tenures, checks on the repetition of terms in these offices, eligibility of all citizens to be elected into office, elections by lots, and a judiciary made up of citizens, as well as a popular assembly vested with considerable authority. As a counterpoint to oligarchy, in a democracy low birth, poverty and mean employment are the focus. While democracy grants absolute power to the majority, oligarchy grants power to the aristocracy, neither form is completely just.
Aristotle lists the four kinds of democracy based on the nature of the population. The most successful kind is that constituted of farmers, who are content with their work and do not interfere with the functioning of the assembly, and can be pacified with a limited amount of power over elections and governance. The next best kind is a population of herdsmen, followed by merchants and labourers. In each case, the effectiveness of the democracy is somewhat reduced. The stability of a democracy depends on the constituency; no one section of the population should vastly outnumber the others.
The difficulty lies not in forming a democracy, but in maintaining it. The legislator is to make laws to safeguard the democracy against destructive elements, as well as ensure the perpetuation of the system. Aristotle recommends a few legislative measures such as making confiscated property sacred instead of redistributing it, regulating taxation of the rich, ensuring a degree of prosperity for the poor, and penalising frivolous lawsuits, in order to keep the population interested in polity, but not in a position to acquire personal gains from it. If there are insufficient revenues to pay citizens to attend the assemblies, fewer assemblies should be held
While a democracy can survive on the basis of the mass of its population, an oligarchy must be well organised in order to remain stable. The best form of oligarchy is similar to constitutional governance. There should be elections to offices on two distinct levels based on the assessment of property, less important offices having a lower requirement, and the most prestigious having higher requirements as well as significant public service requirements, so that the individuals holding them gain the admiration of the people.
Based on the nature of the military of a city, it may tend towards one form of governance or the other. Aristotle opines that while heavy infantries and substantial cavalries make cities best suited to be oligarchies, those with a large number of light infantrymen, or dependent on naval forces, are usually democracies.
Certain executive offices are necessary for the governance of any given state; among these are six that manage state affairs such as trade, public property, taxes, private contracts, law enforcement and persecution of offenders. Four other offices, also indispensable but ranked higher since they require greater expertise, are: the command of military forces, regulation of finance and auditing, handling the functioning of the deliberative assembly, and directing public worship and taking care of priests and religious leaders in the state.
Depending on the size and population of a state the number of offices required to run it may vary.
-Nilanjana Chakraborty, PG II
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