History Political systems

• Roman republican system


  Oligarchy and democracy
• Roman republican system components


  • Consuls (Executive)
  • Senate (Executive)
  • The Assembly (Legislative)
• Consuls (Executive)


  • Formed by the patricians at first, the plebeians joined later
  • There were two consuls, one of whom must be a plebeian
  • The patricians and the plebeians elected the consuls
• Senate (Executive)


  • There were 600 senators, mainly patricians
  • It also included the tribunes who were representatives of the plebeians
  • The plebeians elected the tribunes
• The Assembly (Legislative)


  • Formed by all male citizens (patricians and plebeians)
  • It elected officials and voted on bills
• Spartan oligarchy


  Rule by a few nobles
• Spartan oligarchy components


  • Council of Elders
  • Kings
  • Ephors
  • The Assembly
• Council of Elders


  • There were 30 members, apart from the two kings, it consisted of 28 elders chosen from nobles aged over 60
  • The Council could withdraw and re-submit the bills again, meaning that the Assembly could not reject any bills
• Kings


  • There were two kings (avoid abuse of power)
• Ephors


  • There were five overseers
  • All citizens were eligible to run in the election
  • They supervised the kings (check and balance/supervise)and helped run the government
• The Assembly


  • It was formed by Spartan citizens
  • They elected the elders and the five ephors
  • The Assembly voted on the bills proposed by the Council of Elders, but had no right to discuss the bills
• Athenian democracy


  Rule of all citizens
• Athenian democracy components


  • The Assembly
  • Council
  • Officials
  • People's Court
• The Assembly


  • Formed by all Athenian citizens
  • The Assembly could discuss, vote to accept or reject the bills proposed by the Council
• Council


  • They drafted bills for the Assembly to vote on (500 citizens)
• Elected Officials


  • They were chosen by lots from among the citizens
  • They served no longer than one year
  • They had to report on their work to the citizens at the end of the year
• People's Court


  • This consisted of 6,000 jurors chosen from among the citizens by lots
  • Each group (formed by 600 jurors) would be in charge of a court
• Monarchy was the first type of political system found in Ancient Greece. By the 8th Century BC, most ancient Greek city-states were ruled by kings. They had total control of the decision-making process.
• Kings


  • Ruled with absolute power
  • Controlled the army
  • Led the people in performing religious rituals
• Oligarchy


  Rule by a small group of people in ancient Greece
• Around the 8th century BC, Sparta turned into oligarchy
• Oligarchy in Sparta

  • There were still kings, but the Council of Elders got the highest power
• The elders in Sparta were chosen from nobles, the minority of the population
• Compared with monarchy, oligarchy could avoid absolute rulers
• The Roman Republic was an example of the oligarchy system adopted and improved by later generations
• Athenian Democracy

  • The Assembly was the decision-making body
  • All citizens regardless of wealth could join the Assembly and vote (included secret ballot) on bills
  • They could also be elected as officials by lots
• Although only citizens could take part in governance, Athenian democracy was the most open political system in ancient Greece
• People who were not citizens in ancient Greece

  • Adult women
  • Children
  • Slaves
  • Foreigners
• • Greek Citizens: free adult men born in and lived in the city states
  • They were protected by the law and enjoyed many rights, the had the right to vote and be elected as officials
  • but had to pay taxes and serve in the army