Great Council of Venice. The Great Council or Major Council was a political organ of the Republic of Venice between 1172 and 1797.
It was the chief political assembly, responsible for electing many of the other political offices and the senior councils that ran the Republic, passing laws, and exercising judicial oversight. Following the lockout of 1297, its membership was established on hereditary right, exclusive to the patrician families enrolled in the Golden Book of the Venetian nobility.
The Great Council was unique at the time in its usage of lottery to select nominators for proposal of candidates, who were thereafter voted upon. The exact origins of the Great Council are unclear.
Tradition places its establishment in 1172, but it likely has its origin in a Council of Wise Men that is attested in 1141. That was a council established to limit and control the power of the Doge of Venice, and dominated by the Venetian nobility.
The Great Council superseded the general assembly of the people.
It was the chief political assembly, responsible for electing many of the other political offices and the senior councils that ran the Republic, passing laws, and exercising judicial oversight. Following the lockout of 1297, its membership was established on hereditary right, exclusive to the patrician families enrolled in the Golden Book of the Venetian nobility.
The Great Council was unique at the time in its usage of lottery to select nominators for proposal of candidates, who were thereafter voted upon. The exact origins of the Great Council are unclear.
Tradition places its establishment in 1172, but it likely has its origin in a Council of Wise Men that is attested in 1141. That was a council established to limit and control the power of the Doge of Venice, and dominated by the Venetian nobility.
The Great Council superseded the general assembly of the people.
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