Had that assembly been properly constituted, there would have been no occasion for the ephors.

The gerusia was evidently meant, by the policy of Lycurgus, and by its popular mode of election, for the only representative assembly.

But the absurdity of election for life, with irresponsible powers, was sufficient to limit its acceptation among the people.

Of two assemblies--the ephors and the gerusia--we see the one elected annually, the other for life--the one responsible to the people, the other not--the one composed of men, busy, stirring, ambitious, in the vigour of life--the other of veterans, past the ordinary stimulus of exertion, and regarding the dignity of office rather as the reward of a life than the opening to ambition.

Of two such assemblies it is easy to foretell which would lose, and which would augment, authority.
It is also easy to see, that as the ephors increased in importance, they, and not the gerusia, would become the check to the kingly authority.