The idea of democracy, which means government by the people, came from ancient Greece. Athens was the first city to set up a democratic government.

All free men were members who passed laws and were also allowed to serve on a jury .

Of the 30,000 citizens in Athens 500 were chosen each year to help run the city. They received a small amount of money because they could not continue their normal work.



Words

  • citizen = a person who lives in a country and has rights there
  • government = the people who rule a country or city
  • jury =  a group of people in a court who decide if a person is guilty or not
  • pass a law = make a law or rule that others must keep
  • receive = get
  • serve = here: to be part of
  • set up = organize