Summarize what was the government of ancient Athens like?

Answer 1

There was an assembly of citizens (male) which made all decisions.

The Council of 500 carried out those decisions, with 50 on duty 24/7 to handle events between meetings.

The 10 generals, one elected by each tribe, commanded the army when it was called out. The assembly gave them the implementation of important decisions as the people did not trust councillors selected by lot to carry out important tasks.

Answer 2

During the democratic period, there was a fortnightly Assembly of the male citizens, who determined policies and actions required.

The Council of 500 carried them out and carried out administrative actions between meetings (rather like the public service of today). 50 councillors remained on duty each day and night so that there was a continuing capacity to respond to any problems.

As most office bearers were selected by lot (random draw) each year from the general populace, there was no guarantee of their ability, hence the large numbers of councillors involved, in the expectation/hope that there would be some real talent mixed up in them who could make sure things went right.

Answer 3

After the expulsion of the conservative Thucydides son of Melesias, Pericles was able to introduce radical democracy where the citizens (adult males) met in fortnightly assembly and voted on issues put before them or which they raised. Between meetings, the council of 500 implemented those decisions, and a rostered 50 of them was on duty 24 hours a day to handle any problems which arose.

Legal matters were handled by juries of 500 (no judges or lawyers to interfere) which made decisions of contested matters. Office bearers were picked by lot from the citizenry, and as many of them were natural no-hopers, committees to 10 handled matters allotted to them (on the basis that there would be a couple of rational people amongst that many). The exception was the 10 generals, and so that they would not be led in war by a randomly selected idiot, they were appointed one by each tribe. For important maters, the assembly decisions had appended to them 'the generals will carry it out' regardless of whether it was a civil or military matter.

Answer 4

The government of Ancient Athens had direct democracy(when elders and the ruler or king gets to rule,not just theruler