Great Council of Venice

The Great Council of Venice or Major Council (Italian: Maggior Consiglio), originally the Consilium Sapientis (Latin for "Council of Wise Men") was a political organ of the Republic of Venice between 1172 and 1797 and met in a special large hall of the Palazzo Ducale. Participation in the Great Council was established on hereditary right, exclusive to the patrician families enrolled in the Golden Book of the Venetian nobility. The Great Council had the power to create laws and elected the Council of Ten. After the League of Cambrai, the Grand Council's powers were assumed by the Council of Ten.

• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great Council of Venice
• Rick Steves