It was a custom amongst [the] Athenians, whenever necessary, to choose a particular group which, on a stated day, introduced proposals to the people, as Isocrates says.[1] This happened before the establishment of the 400,[2] according to Thucydides in his [book] 8: "at this crucial moment Peisandros and his entourage arrived and immediately took control of the remaining [matters]. And first they assembled the people and proposed that 10 men be chosen as commissioners with full powers, and that when these men had done their work they should bring a proposal before the people, on a stated day, as to how the city would be best managed".[3] The total number of commissioners chosen at that time was 30, according to Androtion and Philochorus.[4] Thucydides mentioned only the 10 probouloi.