Gerousia

(1) The Gerousia was the Spartan senate. Meaning Council of Elders it consisted of thirty members including the two kings. Members had to be over the age of 60 and were elected for life. Theoretically, any Spartan citizen of the right age could stand but in practice members were selected from the most important aristocratic families.

The Gerousia prepared motions or rhetrai for the wider citizen assembly, the Apella, to vote on. The Gerousia could also veto motions passed by the Apella and was consulted by the ephors in matters of interpretation of the law.

(2) Some ancient sources refer to a council called gerousia in Judea during the Second Commonwealth period (roughly 530 BCE- 70 CE), presided over by the High Priest. Most scholars identify this body with the Sanhedrin.