How did people in Athens and Sparta obtain the right to participate in public life and make decisions affecting the community? Who held public office? What rules governed the selection of public office holders? How were the two city-states similar in their governmental structures? How did they differ?

Introduction

The Greeks are a people who have left a deep impression on the world. Not only did they invent democracy and create some of the most beautiful works of art in human history, but they also gave us the first written constitution and established the concept of an independent judiciary. In fact, if not for these accomplishments—and many others—we might never have heard of Greece at all!

During the sixth and fifth centuries B.C.E., the Greeks evolved political systems that were very different from those of earlier times. The rise of democracy in Athens was accompanied by reforms in other city-states, where, instead of basing power on ancestry or wealth, individual citizens, regardless of social class, came to decide all matters of public policy.

The Greeks were a collection of city-states, each with its own government. Athens was the most important city-state and Sparta was the most important city-state. The two cities were very different from one another; Athens had a democratic government and Sparta had oligarchic rule by wealthy families who ruled over their own territories with absolute authority.

Sparta’s kings held power for life; they could not be removed from office except through death or defeat in battle (which rarely happened). In Athens, however there were other ways that rulers could be removed from office: impeachment; loss of popularity within their constituency due to corruption or incompetence; assassination by an enemy faction seeking revenge against them because they violated some sacred tradition such as lying about having done something wrong so that others would become angry at them instead!

Suffrage

As citizens of Athens and Sparta, you could participate in the government by voting on issues and proposals. Citizens were not allowed to vote for individual office holders or participate in their selection.

In all Greek city-states except Sparta, male citizens had the right to speak and vote at public meetings. In Athens and some other city-states, these assemblies elected members of the council and voted on the policies proposed by that body. There were no parties or elections for individual office. Decision making was done by majority vote of all citizens present at a meeting.

In all Greek city-states except Sparta, male citizens had the right to speak and vote at public meetings. In Athens and some other city-states, these assemblies elected members of the council and voted on the policies proposed by that body. There were no parties or elections for individual office. Decision making was done by majority vote of all citizens present at a meeting.

In Sparta voting was restricted to citizens who possessed full citizen rights (the so-called “full citizen”). The full citizen was an adult male who owned property worth at least 200 drachmas per year (about $100). He also had completed two years’ military training; he could not be convicted of any crime punishable by death; he had lived in his town for at least three years before becoming eligible for citizenship; he could not have been convicted of treason against Athens or any other Greek state during that time period; and finally, if it was needed for purposes related directly or indirectly with protecting their own interests as opposed to those being protected by someone else’s decision making process then yes I think we need another election process here!

Selection of Public Office Holders

In Athens, public office holders were selected by lot. City officials were elected to their positions by the citizens of Athens. They also appointed other public officials without an election or vote (see below). Sparta was different in that its leaders were appointed by kings from outside the city-state; however, they did have some elections at least during times of crisis.

Because most offices were filled by lot or election, even very poor persons could hold high office through their own merit or good luck. However, as in modern democracies, where elections cost money to run and office seekers often have privileged backgrounds (because they can afford to campaign), it was easier for wealthy men to become leaders in ancient Greece than for poor men.

The lottery system was used to fill office. A citizen would draw lots from a bowl and then choose someone to hold office until their term ended. In some cases, people could also win an office by being elected by other citizens as well as lottery winners.

The election system was used when no one wanted another person to hold an office because they feared what might happen if they lost control over it—or because they wanted someone else’s money! This is similar today where politicians often run for office based on personal connections rather than merit (i.e., knowledge or ability).

In Sparta, meritocracy became more important than luck after Lycurgus introduced his reforms in about 530 BC (about 400 years before Athens). He believed that since everyone had equal access to education and training opportunities, everyone would be able to rise above their station through hard work alone; this belief led him towards creating laws which allowed anyone born into poverty

Council Members

In Athens, the Council of 500 was made up of 50 men elected by lot and then chosen by lot again. These men included both rich and poor citizens; they were chosen to represent all classes in Athenian society.

In Sparta, all 300 households were eligible for membership in the council (called ephorai). The ephors selected people from their own ranks or appointed them themselves; however, they could only select one man per household.

Conclusion

The reforms instituted by Cleisthenes at Athens in 508 B.C.E. marked the beginning of democracy in Greece. His reforms included a new system of government and laws, which allowed people to vote on public issues as well as hold office themselves rather than having only wealthy men serve in positions of power. This was a major step forward for Greek democracy because it gave ordinary citizens more control over their own lives rather than just having their leaders tell them what they should do (like happens today).