what is democracy?

Democracy is a system of government ruled by the

people for the people.

Okay…but what does that really mean.

Democracy:~ a governing system for choosing leaders through free and fair elections

~ the people, as citizens, share power and make decisions

~ laws and procedures apply equally to all citizens

~ leaders and laws are determined by the majority. The one with the largest number of votes wins.

Govern – to exercise authority over

Teacher governs the classroom.

Principal governs the school.

President governs the country.

Governor governs the state.

Mayor governs the city.

Government – the organization that is the authority or ruling power over a society

Where did democracy start?

~ in Athens, Greece over 2,500 years ago~ Greece is a country in Europe located along the Mediterranean Sea and the Aegean Sea.

~ Athens was a direct democracy.

Can you find

Greece on the

map?

Two types of democracies:

* Direct democracy

* Representative democracy

Direct Democracy:

~ citizens make policy and law decisions in person

~ no one represents them

~ only reasonable for small countries

Representative Democracy:

~ citizens elect officials to make political decisions, for the public good (people that live there)

~ most common form of democracy

~ elected officials: legislative, executive, and judicial branches make decisions for all the people.

~ form of democracy in United States

Architectural Ideas Also

Came from Greece

~ Many of our government buildings are designed in the same style as those from ancient Greece.

~ Many have columns just like those on the Parthenon and the Temple of Zeus.