Download Cornell Notes 2-4 The Political Structures of the Republic

Cornell Notes 2.4 - The Political Structures of the Republic
September 27, 2011 - Pages 25 & 27
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The citizens of The Roman Republic were basically split into two groups
o Patricians were land-holding nobles
o Plebeians were the common citizens of Rome, although some grew quite rich
There were many non-citizens in Rome, too, such as slaves and foreigners
The main political body was the Senate
Originally the Senate was made up only of patricians, but over time, plebeians gained access.
Even so, it was very much controlled by the patricians
To be in the Senate, a man had to pass strict income requirements. Rome had two offcers, called
censors who determined which citizens were Senators
The Senate could pass consulta, which while they weren't officially laws, people had to follow
The Senate also controlled Rome's finances and all magistrates (officeholders like consuls) had
to come from the Senate.
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The Roman people voted in various Assemblies.
Assemblies were called to pass laws, elect magistrates, and hold trials.
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Rome was run by two consuls, elected by the people for a term of one year.
In times of emergency, the Senate could appoint a dictator, who ran the affairs of the Republic
by himself for a term of no more than six months. Dictators could not be vetoed and weren't
liable for their actions.
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The plebeians elected 10 tribunes for a term of one year to protect their interests.
Tribunes could veto actions by consuls, magistrates, the Senate or Assemblies. (Veto means "I
forbid"). If a tribune vetoed an act, it wasn't allowed to take place
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Roman law was clear and spelled out. All citizens knew their rights.
The first laws were written in the 12 Tables around 449 BC
When an Assembly passed a law, it had to be inscribed in bronze or stone and stored under the
Temple of Saturn