Ostracism
Ostracism was a peculiar process fairly common in Athenian Democracy. Ostracism could happen once a year, and any citizen could be a potential victim of it. During an ostracism, the council of citizens would vote to exile a person from the city. The majority of people that were ostracized were thought of as a threat to the state, and were exiled for ten years. Ostracism was not always shameful, however. It was thought of as a way of protecting their democracy. Themistocles, a famous Athenian politician and general, was ostracized.