Democracy, Greek-Style

Last week, we peeked behind the curtains of democratic systems in both the United States and Canada, to learn how the Electoral College works and how prime ministers say, "let's vote!" This week, we're turning the clock back to ancient times, with trips to Greece and Rome.

Tomorrow, we'll have a partisan brawl in the old Roman Senate. But first, let's ship off for Athens, to see how the Greeks first did democracy. The people of Athens practically invented democracy some 2,500 years ago. But even there, democracy wasn't always the rule. Here's how it got elected.

Draconian Rule

During the 7th century BC, an oppressive aristocracy called the "eupatridae" governed the city. This small group of rich landholders controlled Athens economically and politically. In some cases, they went so far as to sell whole families into slavery for failing to pay their debts.

Eventually, the poor people of Athens demanded reforms. First, they sensibly demanded that the laws be published, so everyone would know what they were. The eupatridae gave in and called on one of their own, an aristocrat named Draco, to publish the Athenian law code as it stood in 621 BC. The code was so harsh that we still use the word "draconian" to refer to rules that seem severe.

Say "Solon" to Fat Cats

In other Greek city-states, such conditions led to the rise of "tyrants"--leaders who held power by force but who were, in some cases, quite popular. In Athens, it led to the rise of Solon. Though an aristocrat himself, Solon condemned the eupatridae for their dishonesty and greed. Around 594 BC, he became archon ("chief magistrate") and launched a reform.

He freed those who had been enslaved for debt and made debt-slavery illegal. And he divided Athenian society into four legal groups, each with different rights and powers. The wealthiest Athenians maintained the greatest influence, but all citizens were granted certain rights--including the right to participate in the election of magistrates.

Solon didn't create an actual democracy, but he did pave the way for one. Before he finished his reforms, many in Athens were clamoring for him to take over as tyrant. In an act of legendary statesmanship, Solon simply demanded that everyone swear an oath to uphold his reforms, and then left the city he had served so well.

The Demes Have It

The Athenians stood by their promise to uphold Solon's reforms--but not for long. Even before Solon died, an old ally of his, Peisistratus, seized power as a popular tyrant. Athens got two decades of prosperity and growth, but no more reforms. Only after Peisistratus died and his son was forced into exile did an aristocrat named Cleisthenes emerge to side with the people against would-be oligarchs.

In 508 and 507 BC, Cleisthenes and his compatriots began a series of reforms to make Athens a democracy. They reorganized the city around what they called "demes," geographic entities like districts or precincts, rather than around hereditary or socioeconomic groups. Representatives from each deme made up the Council of Five Hundred, which set the city's political agenda.

It was direct democracy, not a republic. An assembly of all citizens convened regularly. And representatives to the Council of Five Hundred weren't elected--they were drawn by lot each year. The same went for juries, which could range from a few hundred to a few thousand citizens in size. In Athens's democracy, all citizens--all free, Athenian-born men of military age--had to be prepared to govern themselves.