THAT there are, however, so many species of a democracy and an oligarchy as have been enumerated, is evident from what has been said. For it is necessary, either that all the above-mentioned parts of the people should have a share in the government, or some only, and others not. When, therefore, husbandmen, and those whose property is but moderate, are the lords of the polity, they will govern according to the laws; for they must live by their labour, and are not able to be at leisure. Hence, the law being established, they only assemble in public on necessary occasions; but others are permitted to have a share in the government, when they possess that property which is defined by the laws. On which account all such as possess this property are suffered to partake in the management of affairs. For in short, to exclude any, would be oligarchic. And it is impossible for men to be at leisure who have not property of their own. This, therefore, is one species of a democracy, from these causes. But another species is distinguished by the mode of electing the magistrates. For in this species all those are permitted to have a share in the government who are able to be at leisure, if there is no objection to their birth. Hence, in a democracy of this kind, the laws govern, because those are not paid who go to the public assemblies. The third species is, when all that are free are permitted to have a share in the administration of the polity, and yet do not partake of it for the above-mentioned cause. So that in this species also, it is necessary that the law should govern. But the fourth species of a democracy is that which was last established in cities in order of time. For in consequence of cities becoming much larger than they were at first, and the revenues being abundant, all the people had a share in the polity, in consequence of the excess of their multitude. But they communicated with each other and governed, because even the poor were able to be at leisure, as they received wages for so doing. And a people of this description are especially at leisure; for they are not impeded by any attention to their own affairs. But this attention is an impediment to the rich; so that they often do not frequent the public assemblies and the courts of justice. Hence the multitude of the poor become the lords of the polity, and not the laws. Such, therefore, and so many are the species of a democracy, from these necessary causes.
With respect, however, to an oligarchy, when many persons in the community possess property, but not very great, then the first species of an oligarchy is produced; for the possession of such property enables them to have a share in the government; and because those who have this share are numerous, it necessarily follows that not men but the laws have the supreme power. For as they are far removed from a monarchy, and have neither so much property as to neglect it through devoting their leisure to public affairs, nor so little, as to be supported by the city, they will necessarily think it fit that the law should govern them, rather than that they should govern each other. But if those who possess property are few, or fewer than those before-mentioned, but their property is great, then the second species of an oligarchy will be produced. For having greater power, they will think it right that they should rule over others. Hence, they will associate to themselves those who are desirous to have a share in the administration of public affairs; and because they are not yet so strong as to govern without law, they will make a law for that purpose. But if it should happen that those who are few acquire still greater property, then the third kind of oligarchy will be produced, in which the offices of the state will be possessed by these few, in consequence of a law which orders the sons to succeed on the death of their fathers. When, however, they excessively increase in possessions and friends, such a dynasty is near to a monarchy, and men will become the lords, but not the law. And this is the fourth species of an oligarchy, correspondent to the last species of a democracy.
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