where did citizens had a role/some say in what happened in their society and goverment
There have been numerous historical examples where citizens had a role and say in what happened in their society and government. Some notable instances include:
1. Ancient Athens: In ancient Greece, Athens is often considered the birthplace of democracy. Athenian citizens, who were adult males with certain qualifications, participated directly in decision-making through popular assemblies, voting on legislation, and serving on juries.
2. Roman Republic: In the early period of the Roman Republic, citizens had a say in the government through popular assemblies (comitia) where they voted on important matters such as electing officials and passing or rejecting laws.
3. Swiss Direct Democracy: Switzerland has a system of direct democracy where citizens have a say in decision-making. They can participate in referendums and popular initiatives to propose, accept, or reject laws. The citizens have a higher degree of direct involvement in legislation compared to representative democracies.
4. Revolutionary France: During the French Revolution, citizen participation was significant. The National Assembly and later the National Convention sought input from citizens, and participatory government bodies like the Paris Commune allowed direct influence on government decisions.
5. Modern Democracies: In modern representative democracies, citizens exercise their role through the election of representatives who make decisions on their behalf. Citizens can also express their opinions and influence policy through public demonstrations, advocacy organizations, and participation in legal and political processes.
It is important to note that the levels of citizen participation have varied across different societies and time periods. In some cases, participation was limited to a specific segment of the population based on gender, wealth, or other criteria.