Kings made laws, acted as judges,

conducted religious ceremonies, and

led armies

The ruling power is in the hands of a few people

Aristocrats advised the king

A king was always chosen by the people of a city-state

Oligarchs always focused on the needs of the majority of the people

A few people rule

Most Greek oligarchs were rich men who had inherited land from their families

A king was completely in charge

A tyrant is another name for a dictator

Many Greek tyrants were good rulers

A tyrant's son usually inherits his father's power

Tyrants forced the oligarchs from power

everyone is a citizen.

all citizens share power.

everyone makes the laws.

all members of society are equal.

Every citizen in ancient Athens held at least one public office during his adult years.

The highest positions in the government were occupied by older men who owned property.

The ancient Athenian political system was actually an oligarchy that is often mistakenly called a democracy.

A new law could be passed with the approval of only a small percentage of the Athenian population.

women had the same political rights as men.

voting rights were limited to a small group of people.

all citizens could be chosen by lottery to propose new laws.

the council (in ancient Greece) or Congress (in the United States) passed laws.