The constitution of the United States borrows more or less equally from the examples of Athenian democracy and the Roman Republic. Both of these governmental systems claimed to vest power in “the people,” yet each of them also placed significant restrictions on participation in government.

Which of these two systems would you consider to be closer to the modern interpretation of democracy? In your answer, be sure to consider which groups were enfranchised (allowed participation) and which ones were disenfranchised (denied participation) in government.

In your responses to classmates, discuss the motivations each of these governmental systems had in excluding some people from participation. Ask your peers what they think the motivations were.