Athenian Democracy Overview

Athenian Democracy

• Cleisthenes, "The Father of Democracy," introduced the concept of demokratia or "rule by the people" in 507 B.C.
• The Athenian system of direct democracy involved three institutions: the ekklesia, the boule, and the dikasteria.
• Athenian citizenship was restricted to men and women whose parents were Athenian citizens.
• The male population of Athens in the 4th century B.C. was about 100,000.
• Athenian democracy only allowed male citizens over the age of 18 to vote, resulting in around 40,000 people participating in the system.

The Ekklesia

• The ekklesia, or Assembly, was the main governing body of Athens with meetings held 40 times per year.
• Meetings were held at the Pnyx, a hillside auditorium west of the Acropolis.
• Any Athenian male citizen could attend, but only about 5,000 attended each session.
• The ekklesia had the power to:
  • Decide on war and foreign policy
  • Write and revise laws
  • Approve or condemn the conduct of public officials
  • Ostracize citizens by a majority vote
  • Decisions were made by simple majority vote.
• While the ekklesia was technically open to all Athenian citizens, only 5,000 men attended each session, as the rest served in the military or worked.

The Boule

• The boule, or Council of Five Hundred, was a group of 500 men, 50 from each of the ten Athenian tribes.
• Members served on the Council for one year.
• The boule met every day and was responsible for daily governance.
• The boule:
  • Supervised government workers
  • Managed navy ships and army horses
  • Dealt with ambassadors from other city-states
  • Determined which matters would come before the ekklesia
• Positions on the boule were chosen by lot, aiming for a more democratic system.
• Although selection was theoretically random, historians argue that wealthy and influential people were overrepresented on the Council.

The Dikasteria

• The dikasteria, or popular courts, used a system of juries chosen by lot from male citizens over 30.
• Aristotle deemed the dikasteria the strongest pillar of Athenian democracy because of its immense power.
• Over 500 jurors were chosen daily.
• The dikasteria:
  • Served as the judicial system since there were no police in Athens.
  • Judged cases based on the argument of the prosecution and defense.
  • Delivered verdicts and sentences by the majority rule.
  • Had no limitations on the types of cases that could be prosecuted.
• Citizens could use the dikasteria to punish or embarrass their enemies.
• Jurors received a wage, allowing participation beyond the wealthy.