Roman Government in Roman Government in the Republicthe Republic

Roman SocietyRoman Society

Government: The Senate (debates issues and puts forward proposals for laws (leges)The Assemblies (votes on the senate’s proposals and passes laws but doesn’t have the ability to make laws)

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The People:

The nobility (Patricians)

The Knights (Equites)

The people (Plebians)

non citizens & slaves

A political careerA political career A man of senatorial rank would start their career A man of senatorial rank would start their career

early, possibly working in the law courts or for one early, possibly working in the law courts or for one of the city administrators.of the city administrators.

They would then go to the provinces and hold a They would then go to the provinces and hold a very minor command.very minor command.

Military and political careers went hand in hand. Glory Military and political careers went hand in hand. Glory and prestige on the field of battle were essential and prestige on the field of battle were essential qualities in a Roman politician.qualities in a Roman politician.

Upon returning to Rome they would stand for Upon returning to Rome they would stand for election to one of the smaller administrative posts election to one of the smaller administrative posts such as Aedile.such as Aedile.

After which it would be back to the provinces but After which it would be back to the provinces but this time one could expect to hold a mire this time one could expect to hold a mire influential post in command of a sizeable force.influential post in command of a sizeable force.

The career would continued to jump between The career would continued to jump between Rome and the provinces with each successive step Rome and the provinces with each successive step requiring greater influence, prestige and ability requiring greater influence, prestige and ability and as such offered much stiffer competition until and as such offered much stiffer competition until one reached the consulship and then went onto one reached the consulship and then went onto become a governor in the provinces.become a governor in the provinces.

All the time behind this was the idea that the All the time behind this was the idea that the senate itself controlled who got what post and senate itself controlled who got what post and when. By doing so they made sure that they all when. By doing so they made sure that they all had an equal chance of holding posts and had an equal chance of holding posts and exploiting the system while also controlling anyone exploiting the system while also controlling anyone who got too powerful.who got too powerful.

This system can be best summed up in the phrase This system can be best summed up in the phrase peace with honourpeace with honour. Peace. Peace within the ranks of within the ranks of senators and senators and honourhonour in making sure that no one in making sure that no one had more power or influence than you did.had more power or influence than you did.

Ladders of OfficeLadders of Office

QuaestorQuaestor

Elected by Elected by comitia populi tributacomitia populi tributa Financial officerFinancial officer Age 31Age 31 20 (Sulla’s reform)20 (Sulla’s reform) Enrolled in Senate after termEnrolled in Senate after term

AedileAedile AedesAedes (temple) (temple) Elected by Elected by concilium plebis concilium plebis (plebeian - 2)(plebeian - 2) Elected by Elected by comitia tributa comitia tributa (curule/patrician - 2)(curule/patrician - 2) Age 36Age 36 Duties:Duties:

Public buildingsPublic buildings ArchivesArchives StreetsStreets TrafficTraffic Water supplyWater supply MarketsMarkets Weights & MeasuresWeights & Measures Grain supplyGrain supply Exact finesExact fines Public gamesPublic games Public order Public order Assist TribunesAssist Tribunes

Tribune of the PlebsTribune of the Plebs

Open only to Open only to plebeiansplebeians Elected by Elected by concilium plebisconcilium plebis Defend lives & property of plebeiansDefend lives & property of plebeians Summon plebs to AssemblySummon plebs to Assembly VetoVeto

lawslaws ElectionsElections Senatus consultumSenatus consultum NOT Interrex or dictatorNOT Interrex or dictator

287 BC: plebiscite binding on all citizens287 BC: plebiscite binding on all citizens Can hold office ONLY onceCan hold office ONLY once 10 elected annually10 elected annually

ImperiumImperium

Prerogative of higher office (praetor Prerogative of higher office (praetor & above)& above)

LictoresLictores AuspicesAuspices Command armyCommand army Life & deathLife & death Immunity from lawsuitsImmunity from lawsuits

LictoresLictores

PraetorPraetor

Prae-irePrae-ire Age 39Age 39 8 elected annually8 elected annually Elected by Elected by comitia centuriatacomitia centuriata 6 lictors6 lictors Judicial dutiesJudicial duties Summon senateSummon senate Supervise defense of RomeSupervise defense of Rome Govern province after termGovern province after term ImperiumImperium

ConsulConsul

Age 42Age 42 2 elected annually 2 elected annually Elected by Elected by comitia centuriatacomitia centuriata Enter office on March 15Enter office on March 15 367 BC: Licinium plebiscite367 BC: Licinium plebiscite

1 pleb elected annually1 pleb elected annually 12 lictors12 lictors Lead armiesLead armies Direct Foreign PolicyDirect Foreign Policy Govern province after termGovern province after term EponymousEponymous ImperiumImperium

Occasional MagistratesOccasional Magistrates CensorCensor

Every 5 yearsEvery 5 years 18 month term18 month term Duties:Duties:

Review rolls of senateReview rolls of senate Enforce morality at RomeEnforce morality at Rome

DictatorDictator Constitutional officeConstitutional office Times of emergencyTimes of emergency 6 month term6 month term

InterrexInterrex When elections cannot be heldWhen elections cannot be held Restore orderRestore order 5 day term5 day term

AssembliesAssemblies

ComitiaComitia Assembly of the Roman people Assembly of the Roman people

summoned in groupssummoned in groups ConciliumConcilium

Part of the people are summonedPart of the people are summoned Plebs are summonedPlebs are summoned

ContioContio All of the people are summonedAll of the people are summoned

AssembliesAssemblies Comitia CuriataComitia Curiata

30 30 curiaecuriae Confirm appointments of magistratesConfirm appointments of magistrates Witness installation of priestsWitness installation of priests Confer Confer imperiumimperium on praetors & consuls on praetors & consuls

Comitia CenturiataComitia Centuriata Summoned by magistrate with Summoned by magistrate with imperiumimperium Enact lawsEnact laws Elect praetors, consuls, censorsElect praetors, consuls, censors Declare war and peaceDeclare war and peace Inflict death penaltyInflict death penalty Meet in Campus Martius in military orderMeet in Campus Martius in military order

AssembliesAssemblies Comitia Plebis tributaComitia Plebis tributa

Summoned by praetor, consul, tribune of plebsSummoned by praetor, consul, tribune of plebs Meet in ForumMeet in Forum Elect tribunes of plebs & plebeian aedilesElect tribunes of plebs & plebeian aediles Trials for non-capital offencesTrials for non-capital offences plebiscitesplebiscites

Comitia populi tributaComitia populi tributa Convoked by praetor or consulConvoked by praetor or consul Elect quaestorsElect quaestors Elect curule aedilesElect curule aediles Elect military tribunesElect military tribunes LawsLaws Minor trialsMinor trials

Senatorial Senatorial PerksPerks

Latus clavusLatus clavus Special shoesSpecial shoes

Senatorial PerksSenatorial Perks

Curule ChairCurule Chair

Senate: MembershipSenate: Membership

Open to ex-quaestors and aboveOpen to ex-quaestors and above 100,000 sesterces or above100,000 sesterces or above No freedmen No freedmen No Sons of freedmenNo Sons of freedmen No morally depraved menNo morally depraved men No petty industrialistsNo petty industrialists

Senate: termSenate: term

Serve for lifeServe for life Removed by censorRemoved by censor Can be reinstatedCan be reinstated

Senate: DutiesSenate: Duties Advise magistratesAdvise magistrates Ratify deliberations of the peopleRatify deliberations of the people Invalidate lawsInvalidate laws Judge criminal and civil casesJudge criminal and civil cases Advise Advise

internal and foreign policyinternal and foreign policy FinanceFinance ReligionReligion legislationlegislation

Criticize:Criticize: Conduct of warConduct of war Peace treatiesPeace treaties

Senate: DutiesSenate: Duties

TreasuryTreasury Supervise revenue & expendituresSupervise revenue & expenditures Fix leviesFix levies Determine rate of tributeDetermine rate of tribute Regulate coinageRegulate coinage

Elect interrexElect interrex Nominate dictatorNominate dictator Choose and extend commissionsChoose and extend commissions

Senate: MeetingsSenate: Meetings

Summoned by Summoned by magistrate with magistrate with imperiumimperium

Summoned by Summoned by tribunetribune

Meet in Meet in consecrated placeconsecrated place curiacuria

Artists view of Senate proceedingsArtists view of Senate proceedings

Who’s Who in the SenateWho’s Who in the Senate

Optimates-Sulla, Optimates-Sulla, Cicero, Cato Cicero, Cato Pompey( occasionaPompey( occasionally)lly)

Populares Gracchi Populares Gracchi Brothers, Marius, Brothers, Marius, CaesarCaesar

Roman ConstitutionRoman ConstitutionSeparation of Powers: Separation of Powers:

Polybius 6.11-18Polybius 6.11-18

Balance of Powers

Assemblies Senate Consuls

democracy oligarchy monarchy

elections money defense

Polybius- Polybius- “Whenever one of these three elements swells in “Whenever one of these three elements swells in

importance ..it becomes apparent none of them is completely independent, but importance ..it becomes apparent none of them is completely independent, but that the designs of anyone can be blocked by the rest.”that the designs of anyone can be blocked by the rest.”

Roman Provincial GovernmentRoman Provincial Government

Patronii Coloniae

Order of Decurions(Senate)-

Wealthy LandownersExpected to spend

money on community

Magistrates Assembly-2 Aediles

for adminDuumviri for justice and Financial

Peoples Assembly( Comitium-all

enfranchised males)

DuumviriCensors-nominate

new decurions

Quinquinnales-elected every

five years

Roman ValuesRoman Values

Mos MaiorumMos Maiorum GratiaGratia AmicitaeAmicitae NobilitasNobilitas DignitasDignitas GravitasGravitas FidesFides PietasPietas Find the meanings of Find the meanings of

these terms.these terms.

ElectionsElections It is important to know how Roman politics worked if It is important to know how Roman politics worked if

we are to fully understand the driving force behind we are to fully understand the driving force behind many of the actions taken by politicians during this many of the actions taken by politicians during this period.period.

Roman politics was nothing if it wasn’t corrupt.Roman politics was nothing if it wasn’t corrupt. PowerPower and and WealthWealth were the two driving forces were the two driving forces

behind any politicians career. There was no sense behind any politicians career. There was no sense that government was for the interests of the people that government was for the interests of the people or that there was a moral obligation to run or that there was a moral obligation to run government in the interests of the people.government in the interests of the people.

The senators were out for themselves and The senators were out for themselves and themselves but to be able to satisfy their greed they themselves but to be able to satisfy their greed they had to first get power and this was equally corrupt.had to first get power and this was equally corrupt.

Although bribery was technically illegal it went Although bribery was technically illegal it went on all the time.on all the time.

This was possible because of the way society This was possible because of the way society was structured.was structured.

The Client-Patron systemThe Client-Patron system

Roman society was heavily structured along Roman society was heavily structured along lines of wealth and position. Those above you lines of wealth and position. Those above you in society were patrons. Those below you in society were patrons. Those below you were clients.were clients.

Patrons would look after clients in business, Patrons would look after clients in business, legal matters and sometimes by financial legal matters and sometimes by financial grants for favours in return.grants for favours in return.

SENATORS

wealthy CITIZENSMerchants

EQUITES

Tax collectors, merchants, traders (not just citizens)

Middle class CITIZENSShop keepers

Lower class CITIZENSTradesmen

THE CLIENT PATRON SYSTEM

The higher up the scale one was the more clients The higher up the scale one was the more clients you had to look after. Equally you could control you had to look after. Equally you could control the clients of your clients and their client also etc.the clients of your clients and their client also etc.

Consequently a senator who wanted to win an Consequently a senator who wanted to win an election would ask his clients to vote for him. election would ask his clients to vote for him. They in return would ask their clients to vote for They in return would ask their clients to vote for the patron and so on down the line.the patron and so on down the line.

This way a senator could count on thousands of This way a senator could count on thousands of votes while only having direct contact with a votes while only having direct contact with a manageable number of clients.manageable number of clients.

But the expectations of patrons were matched by But the expectations of patrons were matched by the expectations of their clients and to ensure a the expectations of their clients and to ensure a loyal client base patrons would distribute their loyal client base patrons would distribute their wealth freely. wealth freely.