<P> Key characteristics of the gana seem to include a monarch, usually known by the name raja, and a deliberative assembly . The assembly met regularly . It discussed all major state decisions . At least in some states, attendance was open to all free men . This body also had full financial, administrative, and judicial authority . Other officers, who rarely receive any mention, obeyed the decisions of the assembly . Elected by the gana, the monarch apparently always belonged to a family of the noble class of Kshatriya Varna . The monarch coordinated his activities with the assembly; in some states, he did so with a council of other nobles . The Licchavis had a primary governing body of 7,077 rajas, the heads of the most important families . On the other hand, the Shakyas, Koliyas, Mallas, and Licchavis, during the period around Gautama Buddha, had the assembly open to all men, rich and poor . </P> <P> Scholars differ over how best to describe these governments, and the vague, sporadic quality of the evidence allows for wide disagreements . Some emphasize the central role of the assemblies and thus tout them as democracies; other scholars focus on the upper - class domination of the leadership and possible control of the assembly and see an oligarchy or an aristocracy . Despite the assembly's obvious power, it has not yet been established whether the composition and participation were truly popular . The first main obstacle is the lack of evidence describing the popular power of the assembly . This is reflected in the Arthashastra, an ancient handbook for monarchs on how to rule efficiently . It contains a chapter on how to deal with the sangas, which includes injunctions on manipulating the noble leaders, yet it does not mention how to influence the mass of the citizens--a surprising omission if democratic bodies, not the aristocratic families, actively controlled the republican governments . Another issue is the persistence of the four - tiered Varna class system . The duties and privileges on the members of each particular caste--rigid enough to prohibit someone sharing a meal with those of another order--might have affected the roles members were expected to play in the state, regardless of the formality of the institutions . A central tenet of democracy is the notion of shared decision - making power . The absence of any concrete notion of citizen equality across these caste system boundaries leads many scholars to claim that the true nature of ganas and sanghas is not comparable to truly democratic institutions . </P> <P> Ancient Greece, in its early period, was a loose collection of independent city states called poleis . Many of these poleis were oligarchies . The most prominent Greek oligarchy, and the state with which democratic Athens is most often and most fruitfully compared, was Sparta . Yet Sparta, in its rejection of private wealth as a primary social differentiator, was a peculiar kind of oligarchy and some scholars note its resemblance to democracy . In Spartan government, the political power was divided between four bodies: two Spartan Kings (diarchy), gerousia (Council of Gerontes (Elders), including the two kings), the ephors (representatives of the citizens who oversaw the Kings) and the apella (assembly of Spartans). </P> <P> The two kings served as the head of the government . They ruled simultaneously, but they came from two separate lines . The dual kingship diluted the effective power of the executive office . The kings shared their judicial functions with other members of the gerousia . The members of the gerousia had to be over the age of 60 and were elected for life . In theory, any Spartan over that age could stand for election . However, in practice, they were selected from wealthy, aristocratic families . The gerousia possessed the crucial power of legislative initiative . Apella, the most democratic element, was the assembly where Spartans above the age of 30 elected the members of the gerousia and the ephors, and accepted or rejected gerousia's proposals . Finally, the five ephors were Spartans chosen in apella to oversee the actions of the kings and other public officials and, if necessary, depose them . They served for one year and could not be re-elected for a second term . Over the years, the ephors held great influence on the formation of foreign policy and acted as the main executive body of the state . Additionally, they had full responsibility for the Spartan educational system, which was essential for maintaining the high standards of the Spartan army . As Aristotle noted, ephors were the most important key institution of the state, but because often they were appointed from the whole social body it resulted in very poor men holding office, with the ensuing possibility that they could easily be bribed . </P>

What was the oldest form on government in greece