POLI 111 - Introductory Concepts in Political Science

Introduction to Political Science - POLI 111

Concepts and Definitions

  • Eponymous Harsh Laws

    • The Anthenian citizen whose name has become synonymous with harsh laws is known as Draco.

  • Writ Terminology

    • A writ issued to terminate a decision of a lower court in order for the case to be brought to a higher court for determination is called Certiorari.

    • A writ issued to instruct a body to perform its mandated duty is termed Mandamus.

    • A writ issued to instruct a law enforcement agency to produce a detainee in their custody in a court of competent jurisdiction is known as Habeas Corpus.

  • Public Assembly in Ancient Athens

    • The large open space where popular assembly meetings were held is designated as the Ekklesia or Ecclesia.

    • This popular people's assembly that made decisions for the governance of Athens was specifically held at the Pnyx.

Political Institutions

  • Newly elected members of the Anthenian council were subjected to public scrutiny known as Dokimasia.

Historical Figures and Governance in Athens

  • The individual who introduced a system of government in Athens that bore some semblance of democracy is Solon.

  • The seat of government in the polis in Ancient Greece was designated as the Acropolis.

  • The Anthenian leader who staged more than one military coup d'état is identified as Alcibiades.