What are the characteristics of ancient Athenian law?

The political characteristics of Athens include direct democracy, sovereignty among the people, advocating the rule of law, and cross-restriction of authority. The basic characteristics of Athenian democracy were popular sovereignty and rule by turns. Athenian democracy was called the purest and most typical state form by Engels.

What are the characteristics of ancient Athenian law?

The basic characteristics of the political system of ancient Athens: people’s sovereignty (or direct democracy);

① People’s sovereignty. The power of state management in Athens rested in the hands of all citizens. All citizens of Hefu have the right to participate, the right to know, the right to speak, the right to vote and the right to be elected. The personnel composition and operating principles of the Citizen's Assembly, the Council of Five Hundred, the Jury Court and other military and administrative agencies are all full manifestations of this feature.

② Take turns to rule. All public officials are subject to term limits. All citizens take turns to rule and be ruled. Everyone is equal among citizens and everyone has the right to participate in and discuss state affairs. When a person rules others, he is also ruled by others. In terms of specific operations, the election of national public officials is determined by drawing lots. This best reflects the principle of taking turns.

Limitations of Athenian democracy:

① It is only for the citizen group. Non-citizens, such as foreign immigrants, slaves and citizens of other countries, do not enjoy democracy. rights;

② It is a democracy for male citizens;

③ All public offices are elected and drawn by lot. This kind of turn-by-turn governance is very likely to lead to extreme democratization and the collapse of democracy. decline. The positive influence of Athenian democratic politics

In the process of the development of democratic politics in Athens, in order to protect the interests of citizens and restrict officials, it once implemented the "Other Exile Law". At the citizens' assembly, if citizens thought that someone's behavior was harmful to the interests of the citizens, their names would be written on the pottery tablets. If the number of people who write their names exceeds 6,000, it means that the majority passes, and that person will be exiled abroad for 10 years, but his property will not be touched.