The Technology of Ancient Greece by Shoup Kate;

Author:Shoup, Kate; [Shoup, Kate]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Cavendish Square Publishing LLC

The Branches of Athenian Democracy

Under Cleisthenes, the government of Athens consisted of three branches, much like the government of the United States does now. And like the United States government, the Athenian system allowed for checks and balances, thereby reducing the likelihood of an abuse of power. Cleisthenes did not form these three branches of government. They existed before his rise to power. He did, however, change their rules to be more inclusive of all male citizens—not just the wealthy few.

One branch of Athenian government was the boule. Members of this representative body—fifty from each deme, or five hundred in all—were chosen by lottery and served for a period of one year. That way, no single individual or group could grow too powerful. The boule convened on a daily basis to handle much of the Athenian government’s routine business. In addition, it was the job of the boule to propose bills or laws on which a second branch of the government, the ekklesia, would vote.

The ancient Greeks used ostraka to cast their vote in a secret ballot.

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