Graphe paranomon was the legal action taken against citizens who proposed motions which were in contravention of existing legislation. It is not known when this procedure was established, but according to some scholars, it replaced ostracism which was abandoned after 417 B.C.. The defendant was tried, regardless of whether his motion had been made law, and if he was found guilty he was liable for a sizeable fine. During the 4^thcentury, if a year had elapsed since the passing of the law, no action was brought, but the new law ceased to be valid.

In this way, trials became a regular feature of political life, and the best way to dispose of a rival or to promote a particular policy. The best-known case of graphe was the charge brought against Ctesiphon by Aeschines for having proposed to honour Demosthenes with the right of wearing of a crown. Aeschines and Demosthenes both wrote speeches for the occasion, In Accusation of Ctesiphon and On the Crown respectively, which they delivered in court.