- In an athenian democracy, Women, children, and temporary immigrants do not have the right to vote, while in today's democracy the women of that group are now allowed.
- The Athenians had direct democracy, in which the people could vote directly for the regulation while today's democracy only allowed people to vote for the representative
- When being on trial on the court, people in athens would defend themselves while modern's day court would always provide the defendants with a lawyer.