Democracy

is not a new concept. The ancient Athenians

had a democratic system. Their democracy was the same as

American democracy in many ways. Nevertheless, there are

several important difference between their democracy and ours. 【M1】______

The ancient Athenian citizens voted for

their representatives, and they also voted for certain issues. 【M2】______

Thus, any qualified citizen could become a public official. The 【M3】______

ancient Athenian democratic government also protected the

citizen's right private property, encouraged private business and 【M4】______

supported public education.

A similar system of representative government exists in the

United States. United States citizens vote for their

representatives, and they can impeach representatives, too.

American citizens also vote on certain important matters. In the

United States, like in ancient Athens, any qualified citizen can 【M5】______

become a public official. The government of this country also

protects private property, encourage private business enterprise, 【M6】______

and supports public education.

The major difference between these two forms of

democracy is the definition of citizen. In ancient Athens a

citizen was a free man, not a woman and a slave. Women and 【M7】______

slaves were the largest part of population; thus, the Athenian 【M8】______

democracy was not broadly representative. In the United Stages,

however, all American men and women, of all the races and 【M9】______

... religions, are citizens. Slavery is illegal in this country.

Therefore, American democracy is more broadly representative.

In brief, democracy is an old and varied conception. In the 【M10】______

past it meant different things to many different people.

【M1】