Download Athenian Vs. American Democracy

ATHENIAN DEMOCRACY –
How does it compare to our own
democracy?
PA @ 71
Objectives
• SWBAT analyze the similarities and differences
between the governments of Ancient Athens
and the United States.
• Students will formulate action plans for
specific scenarios using the form of
government that functions best for that
purpose.
Do Now
• We usually think of our own government as
“free” or “fair”.
– Describe a time when our government was
neither “free” nor “fair.”
Athenian Democracy – How
“democratic” was it?
• Athens was a direct
democracy.
• All Athenian citizens
could vote for laws,
elect officials, be
elected to office and
serve on a jury.
• Citizen – only about
20% of Athens’
population were
citizens.
Democracy of Ancient Athens – 450 BCE
GENERALS (STRATEGOS)
• Ten citizens with
military experience
elected by the Assembly.
• Often served for over
one year during wartime.
• Had special powers.
MAGISTRATES
(ARCHONS)
• Elected every year.
•Presided over Jury
Courts
• Had police powers
over the polis.
PRIESTS
(BASILEUS)
• Nine citizens
elected by the
Assembly.
• Special religious
and administrative
powers.
COUNCIL OF 500 (BOULE)
• 50 men from each of Athens’ 10 tribes.
• Elected every year by the Assembly.
• Administered Laws passed by the Assembly.
• Its leader changed daily.
• Each citizen can only be elected twice to the
Boule in their lifetime.
PRYTANY
• Committee of 50 men
who managed the work of
the Boule.
• Elects the Assembly
speaker who keeps order at
the Assembly meetings.
ASSEMBLY (ECCLESIAE) – All citizens of Athens
• Male adults born in Athens to Athenian parents.
• Male adults born elsewhere to Athenian parents.
• Met every 9 days on the Pynx, a hill at the foot of the Acropolis.
• Debated and voted on all Athenian laws and policies.
• Elected Council of 500, the generals , priests, judges and other
officials.
POLIS – Entire Population of Athens (about 150,000)
JURY COURTS
(HELIAEA)
• 6000 citizens were
chosen by lot from the
Assembly.
• Dealt with all crimes
except murder.
What about our own government?
• The United States is a
representative
democracy, or a
democratic republic.
• Citizens aged 18 and
older vote for officials
that make and enforce
laws on behalf of the
people.
Athenian vs. American Democracy
Athens
• Excluded 80% of population.
• All citizens voted on all laws.
• Council of 500 enforced
laws.
• Elected officials answered
to Assembly (citizens).
• Governed a city-state of
150,000 people, with
overseas colonies.
United States
• Includes women and
minorities.
• Citizens vote for leaders
that write and pass laws.
• Executive branch
(President) enforces laws.
• Elected officials answer to
the people.
• Governs a country of over
300 million people.
Activity – Which would do the better
job?
• Each group will get a scenario, a problem to
be solved by a government.
• Decide in your group which government
would do a better job: Athens or the US.
• Create a multi-step action plan for the
government to solve that particular problem.
• Show your response on chart paper.
Scenario 1:
There is a shortage of bread in town. The town next door has so much
bread that they can’t eat it all. We have asked if they could sell us some
bread, but they refused repeatedly. How can we get that bread for the
town?
Scenario 2:
The roads in town are a mess. It seems that the highways, bridges and
tunnels in town are also in need of repair. The town has no money in the
budget to handle this situation. How can the roads get fixed?
Scenario 3:
A crime wave is sweeping across the town. Every night, street after street
is covered with garbage, graffiti, and filled with burglaries and assaults.
The police are keeping order in the wealthier, downtown areas, but the
poorer areas are still struggling. How can the struggling area get help from
this crime wave.