Democracy in the ancient Greek city-state of Athens, the first known place to use that form of government, lasted about 180 years. About 10 to 15 percent of the population could vote. From 1789 to 2025, U.S. democracy has lasted 236 years (and counting).

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8 Questions About Democracy Answered

The origins of the word democracy reveal its meaning: it comes from the Greek word dēmokratia, which was derived from dēmos (“people”) and kratos (“rule”). In other words: rule by the people. The questions and answers in this list are taken from the Top Questions sections of the articles on