The original U.S. voting system had some similarities with that of Athens. In Athens, every citizen could speak his mind and vote at a large assembly that met to create laws. Citizens were elected to special councils to serve as organizers, decision-makers, and judges. The Greek idea of democracy was different from present-day democracy because, in Athens, all adult citizens were required to take an active part in the government. ... This form of government is called direct democracy. The United States has a representative democracy.
