2.3 Local government: politics in Athens part 2

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§2.3 - Local Government

Politics in Athens part 2

Program

• Quiz: different ways of ruling
• Democracy in Athens
• Direct vs. indirect democracy

A monarchy is a form of government in which...

1. A small group of people with privileges are in power
2. A king leads the polis and inherits his power
3. All the power is held by one person
4. The people decide by voting who should be rulers

An aristocracy is a form of government in which...

1. All the power is held by one person
2. The people decide by voting who should be rulers
3. A king leads the polis and inherits his power
4. A small group of people with privileges are in power

A tyranny is a form of government in which...

1. All the power is held by one person
2. A small group of people with privileges are in power
3. The people decide by voting who should be rulers
4. A king leads the polis and inherits his power

Democracy

= A form of government in which the people decide by voting who should be rulers. 

Democracy in Athens

• Around 590 BC: 'ordinary' citizens had to fight in the army
• BUT they now also wanted to have a say
• In 508 BC: all Athenian men over 18 with civil rights were allowed to decide in the national assembly.

Athens is now a democracy.

What did the Athenian democracy look like?

The assembly met 40 times a year. They:

• Decide on war and peace
• Conclude alliances
• Approve or reject bills
• May vote someone out once a year (ostracism)

Why would the Athenians vote someone out once a year? (ostracism)

Direct vs. indirect democracy

• Direct democracy: citizens themselves decide what the government does
• Indirect democracy: citizens vote for representatives who decide what the government does in their name.

What sort of democracy do we have in the Netherlands?