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DEMOCRACY UNDER CLEISTHENES ”Father of Democracy” Athenian Assembly • • • • • • most important body in the Athenian democracy all important laws had to be passed by a vote of the people as a whole all male citizens could participate would meet a number of 3x each month first 6000 or so Athenians citizens to arrive (all that could fit in the meeting place of the Assembly) would deliberate and vote on all important state actions powers of our congress and was not checked by any powerful executive or judicial branches Council of 500 • • • • • • Lot • • • (Boule – meet at “Bouleuterion”) equal representation throughout Greece propose laws - controlled what “assembly” voted on make day to day decisions chosen by lot to one year terms foreign policy finances ”lottery” system reduce influence of $$$$$ and speaking skills most positions were 1 year terms Ostracism • Citizens could write down the name of a politician they felt was becoming too powerful, dangerous, or unpopular o name written on piece of “ostraca” (clay) o anyone who got majority (if 6000 votes were cast) was sent into exile for 10 years Jury System • • • size from 101 to 1001 (odd numbers was to prevent ties) >jury dropped tokens into jars >Solid Disk = Innocent >Hole in Disk = Guilty accuser proposed the penalty the defendant should be given if found guilty f found guilty the defendant also proposed a sentence and the Jury would choose one of the proposals ”Writ of Unconstitutionality” Any law passed by Assembly had to be proposed by one person whose name appeared at the beginning of the law. During the 1st year, if the citizens of Athens felt the law was a mistake because it became contrary to Athenian principles. If the law was deemed “unconstitutional” – the person that proposed the law was fined an amount that would come close to bankrupting that person • this discouraged frivolous laws and glory seekers • it encouraged serious thinking and political responsibility Cleisthenes established a “Direct Democracy” [resembled a glorified “Mens Club”] all citizens participated directly in government Athenian Democracy was limited: 1)citizenship = land owning males 2)women excluded Arguments against “Direct Democracy” • • • • form of “mob rule” – minority could be discriminated against majority of people were ignorant/unskilled about politics and how democracy works Masses could be easily swayed due to ignorance Socrates/Plato opposed democracy Differences in Athenian Democracy and U.S. Democracy: 1)# of Citizens Athens = 250,000 people and about 30,000 were citizens (Men’s Club) 2)Level of Participation • Athens Direct (all citizens) • U.S. Indirect (representatives) 3)Eligibility • Athens = Men only (Men’s Club) • U.S. o Born or Naturalized o 18 years old ***Democracies succeed ONLY if the people are willing to choose and support able leaders*** SO WHEN YOU TURN 18 “GO VOTE!!!!”