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Wait, an elected body ruled over Rome... but, this guy says later, since it had 300 that ruled it became a democracy? Um, wasn't it still a republic? I mean, democracy would be if everyone voted and I don't recall Rome being a nation of 300...

>> ^Lawdeedaw:

Wait, an elected body ruled over Rome... but, this guy says later, since it had 300 that ruled it became a democracy? Um, wasn't it still a republic? I mean, democracy would be if everyone voted and I don't recall Rome being a nation of 300...

I think that's where the "Horible Histories" title comes in.

But then again, by that standard has there ever been a nation that was a democracy? The US follows a fairly similar system (democratically elected Senate / Legislature, electoral college for Executives) but certainly isn't 100% entirely governed by popular vote. So one claiming that the USA is a democracy should technically phrase it as either a "representative democracy" or "democratic republic".

I figure Rome (ruled by Senate) was pretty close to being a "democracy", comparable to any modern country that we label as such. Which makes one think that it isn't a half bad idea for all of us to keep a watchful eye out for the next person who would aspire to be Caesar...

*edit: Very notable that a much smaller percentage of the total population of Rome actually got to vote for their Senators as compared to an average modern "democracy". So the argument could be made that if the USA is a "representative democracy", Rome (while the Senate ruled) was a "representative oligarchy".>> ^Lawdeedaw:

Wait, an elected body ruled over Rome... but, this guy says later, since it had 300 that ruled it became a democracy? Um, wasn't it still a republic? I mean, democracy would be if everyone voted and I don't recall Rome being a nation of 300...

I can agree with the rep/oligarchy one. The United States is a Democratic Republic. We vote directly on our constitutions, however, we elect reps to make laws. A fairly better division of power than Rome, and so your answer stands as good or better than my own.

>> ^MilkmanDan:
But then again, by that standard has there ever been a nation that was a democracy? The US follows a fairly similar system (democratically elected Senate / Legislature, electoral college for Executives) but certainly isn't 100% entirely governed by popular vote. So one claiming that the USA is a democracy should technically phrase it as either a "representative democracy" or "democratic republic".
I figure Rome (ruled by Senate) was pretty close to being a "democracy", comparable to any modern country that we label as such. Which makes one think that it isn't a half bad idea for all of us to keep a watchful eye out for the next person who would aspire to be Caesar...
edit: Very notable that a much smaller percentage of the total population of Rome actually got to vote for their Senators as compared to an average modern "democracy". So the argument could be made that if the USA is a "representative democracy", Rome (while the Senate ruled) was a "representative oligarchy".>> ^Lawdeedaw:
Wait, an elected body ruled over Rome... but, this guy says later, since it had 300 that ruled it became a democracy? Um, wasn't it still a republic? I mean, democracy would be if everyone voted and I don't recall Rome being a nation of 300...