Athenian democracy: the right to vote, jury trial and electoral mechanisms

Athenian democracy, which was formed in Ancient Athens in the 6th-4th centuries BC, is a unique historical phenomenon that laid the foundations for many modern legal institutions. This scientific work analyzes the key elements of Athenian democracy - the right to vote, jury trial and electoral mechanisms, as a prototype of modern democratic and legal practices. The study focuses on how Athenian institutions became the foundation for the development of modern principles of democracy, justice and public participation. Although Athens had the right to vote, which was the basis of the democratic system, only free male citizens had access to it. The work examines how the Ecclesia (People’s Assembly) ensured the direct participation of citizens in decision-making, which became the prototype of modern forms of direct and representative democracy. The scientific work pays special attention to the important reforms of Solon, Cleisthenes and Ephialtes, thanks to which public rights were expanded and a more inclusive political system was formed. The jury, or as it was called Heliea, is one of the most significant contributions of Ancient Athens to legal culture. The work analyzes the organization of the court, the principles of jury selection and its role in ensuring justice. A comparison with modern judicial systems allows us to identify common features, such as the independence of judges and the principle of equality before the law, as well as differences due to the historical context and the evolution of law. The electoral mechanisms of Athens, including lotteries and rotation of positions, are studied as important tools for preventing the concentration of power in one hand and ensuring the participation of broad segments of citizens. The scientific work examines in detail the activities of the Boule (Council of Five Hundred), the principles of its formation and functions, and also compares it with modern electoral systems. The scientific work emphasizes the relevance of the Athenian experience for understanding the origins of democratic institutions and explores its influence on the formation of modern legal systems. The conclusions focus on the uniqueness of Athenian democracy as a model that combined direct citizen participation in the governance of the city-state and complex legal mechanisms, as well as on the importance of this model for the development of the principles of the rule of law and civil liberties.