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The Greeks lived in self-governing cities. Free Male citizens of Athens would gather to discuss and debate issues. Decisions were reached by consenuses. Women, foreigners, enslaved people, and children were not considered citizens. Since the number of free citizens were relatively small, direct democracy could take place
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Byzantine Emperor Justinian proclaimed the Divine Right of Kings. Ever since King David of the Old Testament was anointed by Gpd's prophet, monarchs claimed to have the divine right to rule their people as absolute rulers. The monarchs claimed that they had received their right to govren from God and were accountable only to God.
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In England, King John's nobels revolted and forced him to sign the Magna Carta (Great Charter). Though it benefited the nobels most, it also established some basic legal rights: the rule of law, which said that the king was not above the law; and habeas corpus, which gave protection of the law and the right to a fair trial within a reasonable amount of time.
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Five distinct Aboriginal nations-the Mohawk, Seneca, Oneida, Cayuga-formed the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy. This may have been the first federated government in known history. A Grand Council of 50 representatives from the five nations met to make major decisions based on the consensus.
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At the end of the English Civil War, the parliamentary forces defeated King Charles I and abolished the monarchy. Parliment was declared the governing body of Britain. Later in the century a constitutional monarchy was established with the monarch ruling Parliament.
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The American Revolution (1775-1783) and the French Revolution (1789-1799) ended monarchical rule and established republics with elected leaders in both countries.
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Lord Elgin, the Governor of a united Upper and Lower Canada, accepted that the elected body was supreme. Respinsible government was created. The executive branch became responsible to the elected Assemblies and followed the will of the people's representatives.
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In 1616, the federal vote in Canada was given to White women over 21 years of age who were British subjects.
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The federal vote was given to Canadian women in 1918. Women of color, however, did not have the vote. First Nations women did not receive the right to vote in federal elections until 1960
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Britian's highest judicial authority, the Privy Council, overturned a ruling of the Supreme Court of Canada. The Privy Council ruled that the term "person" refers to both males and females. Women had the right to run for public office and to be appointed to government positions. The Famous Five fought for this ruling.
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The Statute of Westminister was passed by the British Parliament. It gave the former colonies the power to self'govern and the right to pass laws involving foreign affairs. The former colonies became equal members in the British Commonwealth
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The Constitution Act gave Canada the right to make changes to its own Constitution without having to apply to the British Parliament. The Act also included a Charter of Rights and Freedoms that outlined the right of Canadian citizens.
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Four provinces in British North America united under the British North American Act to for a Confederation. The Act set out the structure of the federal system. The division of power was seperated between the federal and provincial governments. The structure of government modeled the British system with an elected House of Commons. An appointed Senate replaced the British House of Lords.
