Today: At America's founding, women and minorities were excluded from the political process.
Today: The U.S. President is considered commander-in-chief of the armed forces.
Today: U.S. citizens cannot volunteer for jury duty. Citizens are randomly selected from voter and driver's lists.
Today: U.S. Senators serve 6-year terms but can be reelected an unlimited amount of times.
Today: The 22nd Amendment says that a person may be elected president no more than twice.
Today: In 26 U.S. states, citizens can propose and vote for new laws through initiative and referendum powers.
Today: After obtaining a 2/3 majority, bills pass from Congress to the President to be signed into law.
Today: The president can veto Congress' decisions, but Congress can override the president's veto.
Today: The 26th Amendment says that citizens age 18 and older may vote in elections.
Today: Legislators debate a bill before taking a vote on whether it should go to the president to be signed into law.
Antiquity: To prevent tyranny, Roman consuls served 1-year terms.
Antiquity: In Athens, male citizens could propose new laws or propose changes to old ones.
Antiquity: In Rome, bills pass from the Senate to the citizens in assemblies for a final vote before becoming law.
Antiquity: In Rome, a tribune could veto the senate's decisions.
Antiquity: In Rome, senatorial service was for life.
Antiquity: Roman senators debated a bill before taking a vote on whether citizens should vote for it to become a law.
Antiquity: In Rome, consuls commanded Rome's army.
Antiquity: Males registered for ecclesia at 18, then served 2-years of military.
Antiquity: Male citizens were allowed to participate in Rome and Athens' assemblies.
Antiquity: Athenians used a lottery system to randomly choose citizens for juries.