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Bellringer
Explain the differences between
Patricians & Plebeians in Roman
society.
Patricians
• Wealthy, powerful
citizens
• Nobles
• Small minority of the
population
• Once controlled all
aspects of government
• After 218 BC, not
allowed to participate in
trade or commerce
Plebeians
• Common People
• Peasants, craftspeople, traders, other
workers
• Majority of the
population
• Gained right to
participate in
government
• Only Romans, who
could be traders, so
many became wealthy
Roman Government and
Society
Unit 6.1, Section 2
“I can understand and explain how Rome’s
tripartite government and written laws helped
create a stable society.”
KIM Vocabulary Words
 Magistrates- powerful, elected
officials in Rome’s Government
 Consuls- the two most powerful
magistrates in Rome
 Roman Senate-Council of wealthy
and powerful Romans that advised
the city’s leaders.
KIM Vocabulary Continued
 Veto- power to prohibit actions by other
officials granted to the Tribunes. LatinRoman Language
 Checks and Balances-method to balance
power to keep one part of the government
from becoming stronger than another
 Forum-Rome’s public meeting place- center
of life of Rome.
Roman Government
 Because the plebeians complained about the
Roman government in the 400s BC, the
patricians made changes to Rome’s
government.
 They created new offices that could be held by
the plebeians.
 The people who held these offices protected the
rights and interests of the plebeian class.
 As a result of the changes, Rome would develop
a tripartite government, or a government with
3 parts.
Magistrates
 The first part of Rome’s government was made up of
elected officials called magistrates.
 They were elected annually. Each one had their
own duties ranging from being judges to managing
finances, or organizing games/festivals.
 The two most powerful magistrates were called
consuls.
 They were elected annually. The power was split
between the two so one person would not become
too powerful.
 Consuls jobs were to run the city and lead the
Senate
 The second part of the Roman government was the
Senate.
 Council of wealthy and powerful Romans who served
for life- advised the city leaders. (First Kings- then
Consuls)
 By the time the Republic was created it consisted of 300
members. At first members were only patricians, but
eventually wealthy plebeians became senators too.
 Magistrates would become senators upon completing
their terms in office.
 By 200 BC the Senate had great influence in Rome
Assemblies
 The third part of Rome’s government was
the part that protected the common people,
it had two branches.
 The first branch was made up of
assemblies. Both patricians and
plebeians took part in these assemblies.
 Their primary job was to elect the
magistrates who ran the city of Rome.
Tribunes
 The second branch was made up of a group of
elected officials from the plebeian class called
tribunes.
 They held the power to veto or prohibit, actions by
other officials.
 Veto means, “I forbid” in Latin.
 The veto power made tribunes very powerful in
Rome’s government.
 Served only for one year to prevent abuse of power.
Comprehension Check
 What are the three parts of Rome’s
government?
1.
2.
3.
Civic Duty
 Rome’s government would not have worked without
the participation of the people due to civic duty.
 That civic duty included doing what they could to
make sure the city prospered. They were expected
to do the following:
 Attend assembly meetings
 Vote in elections
 Voting in Rome was a complicated process, and not
everyone was allowed to do it.
 Wealthy and powerful citizens also felt it was their
duty to hold public office to help run the city.
Checks & Balances
 In addition to limiting terms of office, the Romans put
restrictions on their leaders’ power.
 They did this by giving government officials the ability
to restrict the powers of other officials.
 For example, one consul could block the actions of
the other.
 Laws purposed by the Senate had to be approved by
magistrates and ratified by assemblies.
 These are examples of checks and balances.
Why have these?
 These measures prevented any part of the
government from becoming more powerful than
the others.
 Checks and balances made Rome’s government
very complicated.
 Sometimes quarrels would arise when officials
had different opinions.
 However, when compromise was used and the
officials worked together Rome’s government
was strong and efficient.
Written Law
 At first in Rome the laws made by the
patricians were not written down- they were
only known by the officials responsible for
making and enforcing the city’s laws.
 This made people unhappy because they
did not want to be punished for breaking
laws they did not know existed.
 As a result- the laws began to be written
down.
Make an Inference!
 Why did many people want a
written law code?
The Twelve Tables
 Rome’s first written laws code was
produced in 450 BC on 12 bronze
tables, or tablets.
 These tables were displayed in the
Forum- Rome’s public meeting place.
 These were called the Twelve Tables.
 Over time, Rome’s leaders would pass
many new laws.
 The Twelve Tables would be looked
upon as a symbol of Roman law and
of their rights as Roman citizens.
Impact Today
 Just as the United States took democracy from Ancient Greece- we
also took many elements of the Roman Republic as well.
 Elect our leaders
 Our government has 3 branches- the President (Executive),
Congress (Legislative), and the Federal Court System (Judicial).
 The power of these branches are explained in our constitution, just
like Roman officials were.
 We have a system of Checks and Balances to prevent any branch
from becoming too strong.
 Like Tribunes in Rome, the Present of the USA has the power to
veto actions by other government officials.
 Americans also believe in civic duty to participate in government to
keep it as strong as it can be.
 The Twelve Tables are similar to our Bill of Rights.
Analyze It!
 Why do you think the founders of the
United States borrowed elements
from the Roman government?
The Roman Forum
 The Forum was the center of life in Ancient
Rome.
 It housed the city’s most important religious
temples and government buildings.
 Housed Important government documents were
stored in the Tabularium, such as the Law of the
Twelve Tables
 Roman citizens would be dressed in togas, lose
fitting garments wrapped around the body- symbol
of citizenship.
 The word forum means public place.
The Roman Forum Ruins
The Forum
 Located in the center of Rome, between two major hills
 One side was the Palatine Hill, where Rome’s richest
people lived.
 Across the forum was Capitoline Hill, where Rome’s
grandest temples stood.
 The Temple of Jupiter stood atop the Capitoline Hill.
 The Senate met here in the curia, or Senate House.
 Leaders would use the Forum as a speaking area,
delivering speeches to the crowds.
Entertainment
 Romans meet there to talk about the issues of
the day, as well as to shop, chat, and gossip.
 Many attractions could be found in the Forum
 Shops lined the open square, and fights
between the gladiators were sometimes held
there.
 Public ceremonies were commonly held in the
Forum as well.
 As a result the forum was typically packed with
people.
Generalize It!
 How was the Forum the heart of Roman
society?
Homework:
 Write at minimum a ½ page response
explaining how Rome’s tripartite
government and written laws helped
create a stable society. Use specific
evidence from your notes to provide
support.
 Due Tuesday 3/25.