The Athenian and American Systems of Government :: essays research papers fc

Athens of ancient Greece had perhaps the most advance system of government of the ancient world. The system of Athens was called a Democracy. That is, all(prenominal) citizen voter turnoutd on everything. People have claimed that the United States is to a fault a Democracy. This is non true. The government of the United States is a Constitutional dust politic (Every). United States citizens vote for representatives, who then vote on the laws. They themselves are limited by a constitution. Democracy is a flawed government system. The Constitutional Republic is also flawed, however, it is better at safeguarding individual rights, when applied correctly. Therefore, a Constitutional Republic is a better system than a Democracy. Athens was one of the largest Greek city states. (Stockton, 4). It was about one thousand square miles (Stockton, 4). Athens was founded in the 8th century BC (Muller). It was at first ruled by the college of archons. (Muller). After a term of one year, th e archons became members of the Council of Elders (Muller). The people had a component part in the popular manufacture, the Ekklesia (Muller). However, it did not have real power until 600 BC. By then, it was an established institution of Athens (Muller). It became the central policy making body in the 5th century. There were two main governmental bodies, the fabrication and the Council. (Acropolis). The Assembly was responsible for policy making. (Acropolis) The Council was responsible for administration and implementing the Assemblys policies. Not everyone could participate in Athenian politics. Slaves, resident aliens, and women were excluded.The main architect of Athenian law was national leader. It is unknown when national leader was born. He died in 559 BC. (Plutarch). Solon allowed everyone to participate in court (Stockton 19). He created a code of laws ground on justice, balance, and good order (Muller). Solon abolished the practice of debt bondage (Muller). Solon crea ted the Council of 400 (Boule), and a court called the Heliaia. (Muller) Solon divided Athenians into classes in accordance of rights with their income (Plutarch). The lowest class, the thetes, was ineligible for election to office (Plutarch). However, they could still come into the assembly and act as jurors (Plutarch). The other classes, from lowest to highest, were zeugits, hippies, and pentakosiomedimnoi (Muller). Solons laws were overcast and ambiguous (Plutarch). The court, therefore, and wide powers of interpretation. This gave a significant amount of power fifty-fifty to the thetes. Before a matter could be submitted to the public for vote, it had to be O.K. by the Council of 400 (Plutarch).