- Voting in Athens in 500BCE was very participatory. Each citizen would participate in the assembly at least once in his lifetime by lottery drawing. From the assembly key officials, such as generals, were elected to their positions. Under the other reforms of Clisthenes citizens would cast their vote by hand by dropping a white stone for yes and a black stone for no in a box or vase.
- Citizens in the Roman Republic who voted around 500 BCE would have voted for senators and assemblies. They would have also voted for two consuls, who would check up on each other so too much power could not be wielded unless the consuls used the power conjointly.
- The Roman Empire really had no voting ability in it after the start of the reign of the emperors. The emperors had the ultimate power over everything. The citizens of Rome and those who had been given voting rights in the Roman empire could vote for assemblies and/or senators.
- The US government is based mostly upon the Roman Republic in which citizens of the US elect representatives and don't wield the ultimate power.
- I think the practice of the Republic would work the best in the ideal world because the participatory vote could be easily tampered with. I think the democratic-republic that the USA has set up is perfect because it combines the best of both types of governments.
Democracy & Participation In Athens By: R.K. SinClair
Athenian Democracy By: PJ Rhodes
On Democracy By: Robert Dahl
Abbott, Frank Frost (1901). A History and Description of Roman Political Institutions. Elibron Classics.
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