Spartan Government

The 'Apella', 'Ecclesia', or 'Assembly', included all Spartan males over the age of 30 years. Membership was not open to those of the inferior class, and was seen as a position of power and nobility. Bury and Meiggs state "The assembly did not debate, but having heard the proposals of kings or ephors, signified its will by acclamation." The Apella made decisions such as whether or not war was declared, and bills and laws could either be passed or rejected by them. However their importance was not very significant as Bury and Meiggs emphasise "If the elders and magistrates did not approve of the decision of the majority of the assembly, they could annul the proceedings by refusing to proclaim it. Therefore the Apella's importance within the Spartan Government is over ruled by the power of the Ephors.
It is evident that all forms of Spartan government within the system play an important role in the running of Spartan society. However, from the evidence provided, it can be gathered that the Ephors are the most dominant and superior form, as they have the most power.
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