In the cities (Gr. πόλις, pl. πόλεις) of ancient Greece, the boule (Gr. βουλή, plural βουλαί boulai from the ancient Greek verb βοÏλομαι (boulomai) meaning to will (after deliberating); latin: volo) was a council of citizens (called βουλευταί transliterated as bouletai) appointed to run daily affairs of the city. Originally a council of nobles advising a king, boules evolved according to the constitution of the city; in oligarchies boule positions might be hereditary, while in democracies members were typically chosen by lot, and served for one year.