Political Organization

Legislators, such as Solon and Cleisthenes in Athens and Lycurgus in Sparta, laid the foundations for new forms of government with the creation of new institutions. With slight differences, the institutions are the same in all the poleis: assembly, council and magistrates.

Let's compare the model of the two most important poleis, Athens and Sparta. (Click to enlarge).

iDevice icon Translation

Despite having similar institutions, Athens is classified as a direct democracy and Sparta an oligarchy (rule by a few).

Justify this statement by comparing the two political systems.

iDevice icon A step ahead: The Division of Powers

What is really important for us is that the goverment of the poleis meant the birth of the separation of powers as a model of governance of a state. According to this model, the state is divided into three branches, each one with separate and independent powers and areas of responsibility, so that no branch had more power than the other two. Following Montesquieu, the name of the branches are executive, legislative and judicial.

As a democracy, modern Spain is under the model of the separation of powers, with executive, legislative and judicial branches. You dare to compare the Athenian institutions with ours?

Now it's your turn
The executive branch was represented by Ecclesia in Greece.
True. False.
 
In Spain, the executive is represented by the government.
True. False.
 
In Greece, the legislative branch was represented by the Ecclesia.
True. False.
 
In Spain, the legislative power is represented by the king.
True. False.
 
In Greece, the judicial branch was represented by the popular courts.
True. False.
 
In Spain, the judicial power is represented by popular juries.
True. False.

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