The Assembly
The assembly was a meeting of all the male citizens of Athens. It was held 40 times a year (every 8-10 days) at the Pynx. All male citizens were required to go and if they didn't a slave was sent out with a rope coated in red paint, to slap it onto the male citizens that weren't at the the Pynx as a sign of shame. At the assembly the people discussed issues such as, taxes, war, religion and treaties. All people could go and make a speech to state his opion to the crowd. After all the people had said what they needed to say the people would vote on the outcome. They would vote with a show of hands or dropping different coloured stones in a large pot. The people were involed in the decision making process because they had to attend, vote and they all could speak.
The assembly was a meeting of all the male citizens of Athens. It was held 40 times a year (every 8-10 days) at the Pynx. All male citizens were required to go and if they didn't a slave was sent out with a rope coated in red paint, to slap it onto the male citizens that weren't at the the Pynx as a sign of shame. At the assembly the people discussed issues such as, taxes, war, religion and treaties. All people could go and make a speech to state his opion to the crowd. After all the people had said what they needed to say the people would vote on the outcome. They would vote with a show of hands or dropping different coloured stones in a large pot. The people were involed in the decision making process because they had to attend, vote and they all could speak.
The council of 500, or boule, was ancient Athens's full time government. The council was chosen by lottery and anyone who was a male citizen could enter. All the council representatives' s term was one year, and they could get in twice in their lifetime. The ten tribes of Athens each had fifty members in the council. They met at the bouletarian to discus ideas and plan the agenda of the assembly. the council lived in the Tholos, near the agora. The people were part of the decision making process in that they could each run for a part in council, and that a chairman was chosen by lottery from them that served as head decision maker for 24 hours, so half of them could have the role once per year.
The Court
If a citizen felt that they had been wronged they would bring their complaint to the Magistrate. The Magistrate was a government official that all citizens could run for. The winner was chosen by lottery and their term lasted 1 year. The Magistrate would decide if they would just have to fine the opposed or if the case should go to court. In the court the jury would vote on the outcome. The people in it were also all citizens that were 30 or older. After the plaintiff and the defendant spoke they would vote on the outcome. The worst punishment being death or exile. The defendant and the plaintiff each had a jug with the same amount of water. When the water ran out the it was the other person's turn to speak.
If a citizen felt that they had been wronged they would bring their complaint to the Magistrate. The Magistrate was a government official that all citizens could run for. The winner was chosen by lottery and their term lasted 1 year. The Magistrate would decide if they would just have to fine the opposed or if the case should go to court. In the court the jury would vote on the outcome. The people in it were also all citizens that were 30 or older. After the plaintiff and the defendant spoke they would vote on the outcome. The worst punishment being death or exile. The defendant and the plaintiff each had a jug with the same amount of water. When the water ran out the it was the other person's turn to speak.