Home Random Page


CATEGORIES:

BiologyChemistryConstructionCultureEcologyEconomyElectronicsFinanceGeographyHistoryInformaticsLawMathematicsMechanicsMedicineOtherPedagogyPhilosophyPhysicsPolicyPsychologySociologySportTourism






Democracy under Cleisthenes and Pericles

 

The speaker's platform in the Pnyx, in Athens, the meeting place of the People of Athens.

During this period where, the word "democracy" (Greek: δημοκρατία - "rule by the people") was first used by the Athenians to define their new system of government.

In the next generation, Athens entered in its Golden Age by becoming a great center of literature and art. Pericles was distinguished as its greatest democratic leader.

To implement democratic principles the Athenians used lot for selecting officials. Lot's rationale was to ensure all citizens were "equally" qualified for office, and to avoid any corruption allotment machines were used. Moreover, in most positions chosen by lot, Athenian citizens could not be selected more than once; this rotation in office meant that no-one could built up power base through staying in a particular position. The courts operated with large number of juries, with no judges and they were selected by lot on a daily basis from an annual pool, which was also selected by lot. Participation by the citizens selected was mandatory, and a modest financial compensation was given to citizens whose livelihood was affected by being "drafted" to office. The only officials chosen by elections, one from each tribe, were the strategoi (generals), where military knowledge was required, and the treasurers, who had to be wealthy, since any funds revealed to have been embezzled were recovered from a treasurer's private fortune. Debate was open to all present and decisions in all matters of policy were taken by majority vote in Ecclesia, in which all male citizens could participate. The decisions taken in Ecclesia were executed by Boule of 500. The Athenian Boule was elected by lot every year and its no citizen could serve more than twice.

The decline and its critics

TheAthenian democracy, in its 2 centuries, twice voted against its democratic constitution, both during the crisis at the end of the Pelopponesian War (in 411 BC) and the installment of the Thirty Tyrants (404 BC). Both votes were under manipulation and pressure, but democracy was later recovered. The decline of Athenian democracy was not only due to external powers, but also to its systemic shortcomings.

The Ancient Rome

Even though the Roman Republic contributed significantly into certain aspects of democracy, such as Laws, it never became a democracy. The Romans had elections for choosing representatives, but again women, slaves, and the large foreign population were excluded. Also the votes of the wealthy were given more weight and almost all high officials, such as being member of Senate, come from a few wealthy and noble families.

Middle Ages

The Parliament of England had its roots in the restrictions on the power of kings in Magna Carta. The first elected parliament was De Montfort's Parliament in 1265. However only a small minority actually had a voice; Parliament was elected by only a few percent of the population (less than 3% in 1780.), and the system had problematic features such as rotten boroughs. The power to call parliament was at the pleasure of the monarch (usually when he or she needed funds). After the Glorious Revolution of 1688, the English Bill of Rights was enacted in 1689, which codified certain rights and increased the influence of the Parliament. The franchise was slowly increased and the Parliament gradually gained more power until the monarch became largely a figurehead.




Date: 2015-12-18; view: 605


<== previous page | next page ==>
Solon and the foundations of democracy | Th century waves of democracy
doclecture.net - lectures - 2014-2024 year. Copyright infringement or personal data (0.007 sec.)