Republic

Under communism, there is no such thing as private property. All property is communally owned, and each person receives a portion based on what they need.

Communism is a political and economic ideology that positions itself in opposition to liberal democracy and capitalism, advocating instead for a classless system in which the means of production are owned communally and private property is nonexistent or severely curtailed.

Origins. The term democracy first appeared in ancient Greek political and philosophical thought in the city-state of Athens during classical antiquity. All eligible citizens were allowed to speak and vote in the assembly, which set the laws of the city state.

Ancient Greek civilization, the period following Mycenaean civilization, which ended about 1200 bce, to the death of Alexander the Great, in 323 bce.

The principles behind the ancient Greeks’ democratic system of government are still in use today. The United States and many other countries throughout the modern world have adopted democratic governments to give a voice to their people. Democracy provides citizens the opportunity to elect officials to represent them.

Even today, the ideals of Greek democracy influence the way we govern ourselves. Paine believed that America had adapted the virtues of ancient Greek democracy to the modern world. Direct initiative, or the right of citizens to propose and vote on legislation, has roots in Greek democracy.

The ancient Greeks were the first to create a democracy. The word “democracy” comes from two Greek words that mean people (demos) and rule (kratos). The first known democracy in the world was in Athens. Athenian democracy developed around the fifth century B.C.E.

Solon (in 594 BC), Cleisthenes (in 508/7 BC), and Ephialtes (in 462 BC) contributed to the development of Athenian democracy. Cleisthenes broke up the unlimited power of the nobility by organizing citizens into ten groups based on where they lived, rather than on their wealth.

San Marino