Roles of Government in Ancient Greece & America

What “Hats” Do Government Officials Wear in Our Communities?

• Prior to 500 BCE (Before Common Era), the Greek communities in eastern Europe were ruled by monarchs. These rulers had total power over in their communities.

• After 500 BCE the people living in the city of Athens started ruling themselves. They were sovereign!

• Their democratic governments had only limited powers.

Examples from Ancient Greece.• The Athenians created their own government.

At first, free males of Greek ancestry were the only citizens.

• All Greek citizens had to participate in their government in three ways: soldier, juror and legislator.

• You can thank the ancient Greeks for American politics! “Polis” is the Greek word for “town with wall” or a city-state. It is the root of our word “politics” today.

Protect the County

• Athenian citizens served in their city-state’s military. These citizen-soldiers defended their polis and expanded their boundaries.

• This is a drawing of a Greek phalanx, an ancient battle technique.

Keep the Domestic Peace.

• Athens paid men to arrest law breakers and to control their polis- called the police.

• Jails were operated.• Citizens were chosen

by lot to maintain the rule of law by listening to witnesses and rendering verdicts.

Provide Necessary services

• The polis’ government provided needed services for their residents. It paid for the agora, or market place, (right) for residents to buy and sell goods.

• It also served as a meeting place to discuss city “politics”- issues affecting the common good of citizens inside their city-state.

Write and enforce laws.• The last role of

government was to maintain institutions to write and execute laws.

• All citizens were required to participate in writing laws in the Greek Assembly!

• Greek Councils enforced the Assembly’s laws.

• Pericles (left) , was an Athenian general and member of it’s Assembly.

The Government in communities includes their:

• Police, jails and courts;• Military forces;• Public employees and public works provide

needed services to community members; and• The legislative and executive institutions that

write and execute laws.

American government establishes both domestic policy and foreign policy. What is the difference?

Do we still have citizen-soldiers?

Please agree or disagree with this quote. 5 points total.

• Abraham Lincoln said “The role of government is to do for people what they cannot do for themselves.”

• Agree or disagree with this statement. • Theory 2 points; example 3 points.• Use one of the four roles used by the Ancient

Greeks as your example.