The Law of the Florentine Catasto of 1427

...[stripped of their] private [assets], how the destruction of their wealth has driven them almost to despair, how it has held back the desire of many who wished to return to their homeland, what great evils it has caused, and how it has kept them frightened and uncertain of their status—no writing or speech could possibly describe. And therefore, the magnificent and powerful Lords, the Lords Priors of the Guilds and the Standard-bearer of Justice The Gonfaloniere di Giustizia, the head of the Florentine government. of the people and commune of Florence—considering that if the said inequality could be eliminated, infinite good would undoubtedly follow, and hoping that this could be achieved through the below-written method of the catasto A revolutionary tax system based on sworn declarations of assets and liabilities, rather than arbitrary estimates., and following the near-unanimous voice of the Florentine people, etc., provide as follows, etc.

That immediately upon the passage of this provision A formal legislative decree or act. in the council of the said commune, the Lords Priors of the Guilds and the Standard-bearer of Justice of the people and commune of Florence, through the notary of the drawing of offices for the said commune, are required to have two imborsations The process of placing names in bags (borse) to be randomly drawn for public office, a hallmark of Florentine democracy. prepared in and for each gonfalone A neighborhood administrative district or ward of Florence, named after the "standard" or banner of the local militia. of the city of Florence.

In one of these bags shall be placed the names of all individuals of that same ward and residing therein, who have held the office of the Lords Priors of the Guilds and the Standard-bearer of Justice, or the Standard-bearers of the People's Companies, or the Twelve Good Men of the said commune, or who have at any time been drawn for any of the said offices from and for the membership of the seven major guilds The Arti Maggiori, the elite professional guilds representing judges, bankers, and large-scale merchants. and the scioperati Literally "the idle," referring to wealthy citizens of independent means who did not practice a specific trade but were eligible for office.. And in the other bag shall be placed the names of all individuals of that same status from and for the membership of the fourteen minor guilds The Arti Minori, representing artisans and local tradespeople like butchers, smiths, and shoemakers..

Also, the Gonfaloniere The neighborhood official leading a specific ward. of each ward is required to report eight men of his choice from the commoner and Guelf Members of the political faction traditionally supporting the Papacy and the Republic's liberty against imperial influence. men of his ward who cannot otherwise be placed in these bags, but whom he deems fit for the tasks written below. Specifically: six from the membership of the seven major guilds and the independent wealthy, who shall be added by the said notary of drawings and mixed into the bag for the major guild members; and two from the membership of the fourteen minor guilds, who shall also be added by the same notary and mixed into the bag for the minor guild members.