Editing Direct democracy (section)

===Early Athens===
{{Main|Athenian democracy}}
Athenian democracy developed in the [[Ancient Greece|Greek]] [[city-state]] of [[Classical Athens|Athens]], comprising the city of Athens and the surrounding territory of [[Attica]], around 600 BC. Athens was one of the [[History of democracy#Athens|first known democracies]]. Other Greek cities set up democracies, and even though most followed an Athenian model, none were as powerful, stable, or well-documented as that of Athens. In the direct democracy of Athens, the citizens did not nominate representatives to vote on legislation and executive bills on their behalf (as in the United States) but instead voted as individuals. The [[public opinion]] of voters was influenced by the [[political satire]] of the [[Ancient Greek comedy|comic poets]] in the [[Ancient Greek theatre|theatres]].<ref>Henderson, J. (1996) ''Comic Hero versus Political Elite'' pp. 307–19 in {{Cite book|editor=Sommerstein, A.H. |editor2=S. Halliwell |editor3=J. Henderson |editor4=B. Zimmerman |title=Tragedy, Comedy and the Polis |year=1993 |publisher=Levante Editori |location=Bari}}</ref>

[[Solon]] (594 BC), [[Cleisthenes]] (508–507 BCE), and [[Ephialtes]] (462 BC) all contributed to the development of Athenian democracy. Historians differ on which of them was responsible for which institution, and which of them most represented a truly democratic movement. It is most usual to date Athenian democracy from Cleisthenes since Solon's constitution fell and was replaced by the tyranny of [[Peisistratos|Peisistratus]], whereas Ephialtes revised Cleisthenes' constitution relatively peacefully.
[[Hipparchus (son of Pisistratus)|Hipparchus]], the brother of the tyrant [[Hippias (son of Pisistratus)|Hippias]], was killed by [[Harmodius and Aristogeiton]], who were subsequently honored by the Athenians for their alleged restoration of Athenian freedom.

The greatest and longest-lasting democratic leader was [[Pericles]]; after his death, Athenian democracy was twice briefly interrupted by an oligarchic revolution towards the end of the [[Peloponnesian War]]. It was modified somewhat after it was restored under [[Eucleides]]; the most detailed accounts are of this 4th-century modification rather than of the Periclean system. It was suppressed by the [[Macedonia (ancient kingdom)|Macedonians]] in 322 BC. The Athenian institutions were later revived, but the extent to which they were a real democracy is debatable.<ref>{{Harvnb|Elster|1998|pp=1–3}}</ref>

Sociologist [[Max Weber]] believed that every [[mass democracy]] went in a [[Caesarism|Caesarist]] direction. Professor of law Gerhard Casper writes, "Weber employed the term to stress, [[inter alia]], the [[Plebeian Council|plebiscitary]] character of elections, disdain for parliament, the non-toleration of autonomous powers within the government and a failure to attract or suffer independent political minds."<ref>{{cite web |url=https://law.stanford.edu/publications/caesarism-in-democratic-politics-reflections-on-max-weber/ |title=Caesarism in Democratic Politics: Reflections on Max Weber}}</ref>