[magicsmoke]

"The Great Council of Venice was a large legislative body made up of a relatively small number of noble families"

So in Venice's case, it wasn't so much randomly selecting representatives from all its citizens as it was selecting from already wealthy and influential persons, on the assumption that they were somewhat competent if they could amass and manage their existing power.

[keeganpoppen]

being groomed your whole life to take your father's place is totally different from being randomly forced to be a member of a legislative body, though... even if you are unremarkable, at least you'd learn enough to "know the language" from being in that world your whole life. maybe. also, you could at least argue that nobility have the most "skin in the game" when it comes to decisions about the realm. (not that that justifies that sort of system-- i think everyone makes out a lot better now than they did then)

[thaumasiotes]

> I think everyone makes out a lot better now than they did then

True, but how much of that is due to changes in the governmental system?

[ALittleLight]

Could make it a pool of n lawyers, o professors, p doctors, q people who've made more than X million dollars, etc.

[C1sc0cat]

We need fewer lawyers in politics in my opinion