Embed Size (px)
Citation preview
DemocracyRule by the People
Objectives…O I can explain the role of “majority
rule” in the origins of democracy in Ancient Greece.
O I can compare democracy in Athens to democracy in the US.
O I can identify characteristics of limited and unlimited government
Governing Ancient Greece
O The first leaders of Greece were likely kings who were military leaders
O After the Dark Ages of Greece, city-states were ruled by aristocratsO Aristocrats: members of rich and
powerful familiesO Aristocrats controlled most of the
good land, owned horses, chariots, and had the best weapons
Governing Ancient Greece
O As city-states became richer from trade the middle class of merchants and artisans developed.
O The middle class wanted more say in the government and could now afford armor, swords, and spears.
O The middle class began to overthrow aristocratic rulers and replaced them with tyrantsO Tyrant: a ruler who took power by force
Greek Hoplite Soldier
Governing Ancient Greece
O The middle class usually supported tyrants, but eventually some become too harsh and violent
O Some city-states begin to overthrow tyrants and develop democracies.O Democracy: a form of government in which
citizens govern themselvesO Democracies use the principal of majority
ruleO Majority rule: the practice that more than
half of a group can make decisions binding on the whole group
Athenian DemocracyO Democracy was most fully developed in
AthensO Athens was a direct democracy, meaning
all citizens could vote on government policies
O Athenians used trial by jury before issuing punishments
O Who could vote?O Men who had two parents who came from
families with citizenshipO Women, slaves, and men with non-citizen
parents could NOT vote
U.S. DemocracyO The United States is a representative
democracy, all citizens elect representatives to create and vote on government policies.O States elect representatives to go to Washington
D.C.O These representatives make decisions about laws
based upon the needs of the people in their stateO The US also uses trial by juryO Who can vote?
O Citizens over the age of 18O Anyone born in the United States or U.S. territory
is a citizen of the U.S.O Immigrants can apply for citizenship.
Differences Between Athenian and American Democracy
O 1. Requirements for citizenshipO 2. Direct democracy VS.
Representative DemocracyO 3. The US allows people to apply for
citizenship, Athens did not allow this
Similarities in Athenian and American Democracy
O 1. Trial by JuryO 2. Citizens are granted the right to
vote as part of the governmental process
O 3. The Government is made up of elected citizens who run the city-state/country on a daily basis
Unlimited GovernmentO Unlimited Government: a form of
government in which those of authority do not have to follow the same laws as everyone else.
O Tyrants, aristocrats, and kings are usuallly unlimited governments
O Examples:O 1. The King creates taxes that people have to
pay, but he doesn’t have to pay themO 2. Only the King makes lawsO 3. Laws only apply to certain people O 4. People can be put in jail without trial
Limited GovernmentO Limited Government: a form of government
in which everyone, including the people of authority (leaders), must obey the laws.
O Democracies are usually limited governments.
O Examples:O 1. Trial by jury (people vote to decide if a
person is guilty of a crime)O 2. Elected officials make lawsO 3. Search Warrants (People must have a
reasonable cause to search someone’s personal belongings)
O 4. Everyone pays taxes (Even the leaders!)
![1990] Democracy, The Rule ofLaw Judicial Review 1 D](https://img.pdfslide.net/doc/110x75/62820f49d261041ba4469f0d/1990-democracy-the-rule-oflaw-judicial-review-1-d-.jpg)
