Roman government

Republic

• A type of government where everything is public and everyone can vote.

Senate

- A political body of Patricians• Must be previously elected as an executive

official such as a questor, aedile, praetor, or consul.

• Once you’re in the Senate, you’re in for life.• Had the ability to start wars, elect executive

officials, pass laws, and declare consuls as dictators in times of emergency.

“Conflict of the Orders”

• The Romans struggle against each other for Civil Rights and representation in the government.

• This was the political struggle between the Patricians and the Plebeians.

• Lasted from 494 BC to 287 BC.• Caused the Senate to be open to everyone

including the Plebeians.

Patricians

• Aristocrats• The Calvary of Rome • The ruling class of Rome before the “Conflict

of the Orders”

Plebeians

• Commoners• Not all were poor• Small farmers• Soldiers

Consuls

• Almost always Particians• Sometimes a Plebeian• Consisted of 2 chief consecutives• Served as commanders in-chief of the Military• Power to execute soldiers for lack of discipline• Can temporarily be Dictator for 6 months• Can veto each others decisions.

Dictator

• A temporary Tyrant• Elected under emergency• Has absolute power for 6 months• Best military leader

Veto

• The act of canceling a decision made by a law making body

• One of the 2 consuls makes a decision that the other one doesn’t like, then he can cancel the decision and make one of his own

Assembly of the Plebs or Comitia Plebus

Expanded Democracy by allowing Plebieans to elect certain officials. Try criminal cases involving Plebieans Pass legislation

Tribunes• Elected by farmers and aristocrats• They could either be commoners or aristocrats• Well protected and had great power because

of the Plebieans• Because of the Tribunes the Plebieans were

able to participate in the Government and they fought for what they wanted

• Could veto any law passed by the Senate

Censor

• The people who took the census• 2 censors• The census was needed for the collection of

taxes and military duties• Decided who could be in the Calvary(only the

extremely wealthy)• Organized the people by their wealth

Executive Branch

• Consuls

Legislative Branch

• Consisted of the Assemblies and the Senate

Judicial Branch

• 3rd branch of government• Consisted of the courts

Praetor

• Officer of the law• Put in charge of the Judicial Branch• Led armies• Elected annually by military assembly

The Twelve Tables• Seen by everyone.• Laws written on 12 bronze tables.• Open to legislative change.• Adjusted to life.• Aristocrats interpreted the laws.• They believed that they were the only people

who had sufficient understanding of the laws.• If you break the laws, then the punishments

are harsh.• Punishments include, being clubbed to death,

flogged ,thrown off a cliff, and buried alive.

Cursus Honorum

• Ladder of the executive offices

How did the romans impact their people by using a democracy?

• It made them feel like they were apart of the government not like being led and having no opinion.

• It made everyone equal