§6.14.1ἐκ δὲ τούτων τίς οὐκ ἂν εἰκότως ἐπιζητήσειε ποία καὶ τίς ποτʼ ἐστὶν ἡ τῷ δήμῳ καταλειπομένη μερὶς ἐν τῷ πολιτεύματι, §6.14.2τῆς μὲν συγκλήτου τῶν κατὰ μέρος ὧν εἰρήκαμεν κυρίας ὑπαρχούσης, τὸ δὲ μέγιστον, ὑπʼ αὐτῆς καὶ τῆς εἰσόδου καὶ τῆς ἐξόδου χειριζομένης ἁπάσης, τῶν δὲ στρατηγῶν ὑπάτων πάλιν αὐτοκράτορα μὲν ἐχόντων δύναμιν περὶ τὰς τοῦ πολέμου παρασκευάς, αὐτοκράτορα δὲ τὴν ἐν τοῖς ὑπαίθροις ἐξουσίαν;
From these things, who would not reasonably ask what sort of and indeed what share is left to the people in the constitution, since the senate, on the one hand, is in control of the individual matters we have mentioned, and, what is most important, manages all revenue and expenditure by itself, while the consuls as generals, on the other hand, have absolute power regarding the preparations for war, and absolute authority in the field?
§6.14.3οὐ μὴν ἀλλὰ καταλείπεται μερὶς καὶ τῷ δήμῳ, καὶ καταλείπεταί γε βαρυτάτη.
Nevertheless, a share is indeed left to the people, and it is a very heavy one indeed.
§6.14.4τιμῆς γάρ ἐστι καὶ τιμωρίας ἐν τῇ πολιτείᾳ μόνος ὁ δῆμος κύριος, οἷς συνέχονται μόνοις καὶ δυναστεῖαι καὶ πολιτεῖαι καὶ συλλήβδην πᾶς ὁ τῶν ἀνθρώπων βίος.
For the people alone have control over honor and punishment in the state, by which alone dynasties and constitutions, and in short the whole life of men, are held together.
§6.14.5παρʼ οἷς γὰρ ἢ μὴ γινώσκεσθαι συμβαίνει τὴν τοιαύτην διαφορὰν ἢ γινωσκομένην χειρίζεσθαι κακῶς, παρὰ τούτοις οὐδὲν οἷόν τε κατὰ λόγον διοικεῖσθαι τῶν ὑφεστώτων· πῶς γὰρ εἰκὸς ἐν ἴσῃ τιμῇ [ὄντων] τῶν ἀγαθῶν τοῖς κακοῖς;
For among those with whom such a distinction either happens not to be recognized, or, being recognized, is badly managed, none of the existing things can be administered according to reason; for how is it reasonable, if the good are held in equal honor with the bad?
§6.14.6κρίνει μὲν οὖν ὁ δῆμος καὶ διαφόρου πολλάκις, ὅταν ἀξιόχρεων ᾖ τὸ τίμημα τῆς ἀδικίας, καὶ μάλιστα τοὺς τὰς ἐπιφανεῖς ἐσχηκότας ἀρχάς.
Thus, the people often judge cases involving a fine, whenever the penalty for the offense is substantial, and especially those who have held illustrious offices.
θανάτου δὲ κρίνει μόνος.
And they alone judge cases of death.
§6.14.7καὶ γίνεταί τι περὶ ταύτην τὴν χρείαν παρʼ αὐτοῖς ἄξιον ἐπαίνου καὶ μνήμης.
And something worthy of praise and remembrance happens among them regarding this practice.
τοῖς γὰρ θανάτου κρινομένοις, ἐπὰν καταδικάζωνται, δίδωσι τὴν ἐξουσίαν τὸ παρʼ αὐτοῖς ἔθος ἀπαλλάττεσθαι φανερῶς, κἂν ἔτι μία λείπηται φυλὴ τῶν ἐπικυρουσῶν τὴν κρίσιν ἀψηφοφόρητος, ἑκούσιον ἑαυτοῦ καταγνόντα φυγαδείαν.
For to those who are being tried for death, when they are being condemned, their custom gives the power to depart openly, even if there is still one of the tribes ratifying the decision that has not yet voted, by condemning himself to voluntary exile.
§6.14.8ἔστι δʼ ἀσφάλεια τοῖς φεύγουσιν ἔν τε τῇ Νεαπολιτῶν καὶ Πραινεστίνων, ἔτι δὲ Τιβουρίνων πόλει, καὶ ταῖς ἄλλαις, πρὸς ἃς ἔχουσιν ὅρκια.
And there is safety for the exiles in the cities of the Neapolitans, the Praenestines, and also the Tiburtines, and the others with whom they have treaty relations.
§6.14.9καὶ μὴν τὰς ἀρχὰς ὁ δῆμος δίδωσι τοῖς ἀξίοις· ὅπερ ἐστὶ κάλλιστον ἆθλον ἐν πολιτείᾳ καλοκἀγαθίας.
Moreover, the people bestow offices upon the worthy; which is the finest prize for virtue in a state.
§6.14.10ἔχει δὲ τὴν κυρίαν καὶ περὶ τῆς τῶν νόμων δοκιμασίας, καὶ τὸ μέγιστον, ὑπὲρ εἰρήνης οὗτος βουλεύεται καὶ πολέμου.
They also have control over the approval of laws, and, what is most important, they deliberate on peace and war.
§6.14.11καὶ μὴν περὶ συμμαχίας καὶ διαλύσεως καὶ συνθηκῶν οὗτός ἐστιν ὁ βεβαιῶν ἕκαστα τούτων καὶ κύρια ποιῶν ἢ τοὐναντίον.
Moreover, regarding alliance, peace, and treaties, it is they who confirm each of these and make them valid, or the opposite.
§6.14.12ὥστε πάλιν ἐκ τούτων εἰκότως ἄν τινʼ εἰπεῖν ὅτι μεγίστην ὁ δῆμος ἔχει μερίδα καὶ δημοκρατικόν ἐστι τὸ πολίτευμα.
So that from these things, again, one would reasonably say that the people have a very great share, and that the constitution is democratic.