Page "Athenian democracy" Paragraph 17

Though there might be blocs of opinion, sometimes enduring, on important matters, there were no political parties and likewise no government or opposition ( as in the Westminster system ).

Voting was by simple majority.

In the 5th century at least there were scarcely any limits on the power exercised by the assembly.

If the assembly broke the law, the only thing that might happen is that it would punish those who had made the proposal that it had agreed to.

If a mistake had been made, from the assembly's viewpoint it could only be because it had been misled.