Democracy


 * Democracy Between Athens and Today**  **By: Brittney Jensen & Marisa Lombardo**

**Democracy in the United States and Today** Democracy was used in Ancient Greece, Athens, and is used today in the United States. Athens founded democracy, which means rule by the people. Democracy came after the defeat of the Persians and their strive for excellence and confidence (**Arête**). The original Athenian democracy is our foundation for the democracy that we have in the United States today.

=Democracy in the United States =  In the United States, we have two different democracies. There are indirect democracies and direct democracies. Unlike the indirect democracy where elected representatives make decisions regardless of the wishes of their constituencies, in direct democracy, individuals vote on critical issues and their decisions are carried out by their elected representatives .("Direct Democracy Now") A Direct Democracy can also be known as a “pure” democracy. "Some say, “T he United States is hardly a "model" of direct democracy. Historically, our system has been notable for several institutions of government that might more accurately be described as distinctly "indirect" and "undemocratic ." ("Direct Democracy in the United States") "Most modern democracy is indirect democracy, which is also known as representative democracy. In large communities, it is impossible for all the people to meet in a group. Instead, they elect a certain number of their fellow citizens to represent them in making decisions about laws and other matters. Assembly representatives are called a **__council__** ; government by the people through their freely elected representatives. This is sometimes called a republican government or democratic republic." ("Democracy", 119)

=Vocabulary- =  **__Controls on Power__** **:** Democracies have various arrangements to prevent any person or branch of government from becoming too powerful.  **__Constitutional Government__** **:** Democratic government is based on law and, in most cases, a written constitution.  **__Citizen Participation__** **:** Democracy calls for a widespread participation in politics by the people.  **__Voluntary Action__** **:** important quality of Democratic government is its emphasis on trying to get people to act on the basis of understanding and agreement instead of force.  **__Political Parties__** **:** gives a choice to candidates who represent different interests and points of view.  **__Free Elections__** : give the people the chance to choose their leaders and express their opinions on issues.  **__Majority Rule and Minority Rights__** **:** decide policy and elect officials/ approved by majority votes before and action can go into effect.  **__Plurality__** **:** used when three or more candidates stand for election. (*All from "Features of Democracy", 120 and from "Making democracy work", 121)

Going along with the vocabulary above, a candidate with plurality receives more votes than any other candidate but does not necessarily have the majority votes. ("Features of Democracy", 120) Today free elections are held regularly in democracy. People use ballots to elect officials to represent them and to run the government on all levels. ("Features of Democracy", 120)

**Democracy in Athens** "Democracy in Athens influenced everyone because we even use it today. It all started in 508 B.C. when the Athenians adopted a new constitution proposed by Cleisthenes, which made the state a democracy. This consitution was an unwritten one,but it stayed in effect with little change for a hundred years. The constituion kept the ideas of Solon, but it also provided the new conditions that had developed since Solon's rules. Under Cleisthenes's system, all men 18 years of age and older were registered as citizens and as members of the town. Cleisthenes than organized the demes into 30 groups called trittyes. Cleisthene's most important reform was the creation of a council of 500 members who were chosen each year by drawing lots. The new political system provided every citizen of Athens with a chance to help run the city government. All citizens were eligible for the council and for other offices. Women were not considered citizens and could not vote. In time, all public officials except generals were chosen annually by drawing lots. Individuals who were considered to be a threat to the government would be banned for 10 years with the vote of the people. This government system would become what we use as our democracy in todays day and age." ("History", 857)

"Athenian democracy was established as a result of continuous reorganizations. The name comes from demos-people and Kratos-power, so litarally power of the people. Apart from many smaller changes, it was mainly based on the opportunity for all citizens over 20 to take part in governing the country. Athenian democracy also had weak sides, like limited possibility of taking part in the Assembly of Citizens for people living outside Athens. Peasants, especially during harvest, could not take part in voting because of the distance they would have to cover to vote. A Solution to this problem was delegating a representative from each village who would take care of interests of food producers." ("Ancient Greece")

**Democracy Similarities** Athens and the United States have a vast number of similarities in their democracy. Both have political power exercised by citizens which is direct democracy. They have faith in the power of education and this is a characteristic of democracy which is valued in Athens as well as the United States. Both have three branches of government; the United States has the Legislative, Executive, and Judicial branches. Athens had the Assembly, the Council of 500, and the People’s Court. The Assembly and Legislative branch both pass laws. The Council of 500 and the Executive branch both carry out laws. Finally, the People’s court and Judicial branch both conduct trials with paid jurors. ("Littell " 134) In general, both Athens and the U.S. have very transparent democracies.

**Democracies Importance and How It Affected Greece** Democracy was crucial to the success that ocurred in Athens. Democracy was invented after their pride was developed. Once they won their major war aganst the Persians, Athenian citizens felt as if they were unstopable; since they were widely out numbered by the Persians and lacked the necessary help from their neighn=boring city-states to defeat the Persians. Athenians confidence led to many inventions, including democracy.

Democracy affected Greece in a positive way. Unlike Greece's surrounding country's, Greece had democracy; thanks to Athens of course. Because Greece had founded democracy, they became an advanced society and had a major advantage over other countries. Greece became very successful and even founded the Delian League and the Peloponnesian League. This made Greece an even stronger country, too add to democracy.

On the last note, "the biggest advantage of democracy was the general possibility of taking part in public life for all free citizens. Undoubtedly it helped the citizens of Athens to broaden their minds, their cultural awareness and, what was probably most important, to develop intelectually." ("Ancient Greece") This is also some reasons of how democracy in Athens affected Greece. **Conclus****ion** Overall, both Athens and the United States have similar democracies. Each have three branches or parts of a system that act the same way; despite the difference of the names. In the U.S. democracy there are two different types of democracy, indirect and direct. Although the U.S. is supposed to be a direct democracy, the people of the U.S. think otherwise. Lately, the country has appeared more indirect than direct. Athens democracy enabled the growth of the country of Greece and allowed the citizens to prosper. Even the United States prospered from the original idea of the Athenian democracy.

**Work Cited** Author Unknown. "Ancient Greece." ancient_greece.htnl. [|www.ancient_greece.us/democracy.html] Author Unknown. "Direct Democracy." Direct Democracy Now.org. [|www.directdemocracynow.org] David Marcello. "Direct Democracy in the United States." Papers.com. [] "Democracy" World Book. 2008 ed. 2008 McNally, Randy. World History Patterns of Interaction. Illinois: Houghton Mifflin Company, 2005.



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