Final answer:
The United States government is more similar to the Athenian democracy than the Spartan oligarchy, as both the US and ancient Athens have systems that allow for broader participation in governance, despite the Athenian democracy being direct and exclusive compared to the more inclusive representative democracy of the US.
Step-by-step explanation:
When comparing the ancient governments of Athens and Sparta with that of the modern United States, one could argue that the US government is more analogous to the Athenian democracy than the Spartan oligarchy. Athens is known as the birthplace of democracy, where all adult male citizens were allowed to participate in the Assembly and vote directly on legislation and executive matters. Although Athenian democracy was direct with citizens voting on laws themselves, this feature is somewhat reflected in the US through the practices of referendums and initiatives in certain states.
Meanwhile, in Sparta, only the elite soldier-citizens, known as Spartiates, could engage in governance from the age of thirty, and they had a Council of Elders that included members who were above sixty years old. This limited participation resembles more closely an oligarchic structure, wherein a small group holds all power. The US government has broader representation, including the election of a President, 100 Senators, and 487 Representatives, which is more inclusive than the Spartan model.
However, it is important to note that just as the Athenian democracy did not include women, slaves, and non-citizens, the US democracy has evolved over time to expand its inclusivity beyond what the Athenians practiced. The progression from an exclusive democracy in Athens to a representative democracy in the US shows that while inspired by ancient government systems, modern democracy has developed to include a wider range of participants.