Download THE ROMAN REPUBLIC

THE ROMAN
REPUBLIC
Chapter 8
Section 2
Part 1
Rome’s Government
Patricians
*Wealthy Landowners
*Made up Rome’s ruling
class
*Men-Roman Citizens
*Can hold public office
*Vote, Pay Taxes, Serve in
the Army
*Could not marry a Plebeian
Plebeian
*Artisans, Shopkeepers,
owners of small farms
*Men-Roman Citizens
*Vote, Pay Taxes, Serve in
the Army
*Less Social Class
*Could not hold public office
*Could not marry a Patrician
Roman Republic
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Tripartite—three part Government
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One group ran the government
One group made the laws
One group acted as Judges
Had Checks and Balances so one group could
not get too strong, but did not separate
powers
Roman Republic
Roman Republic
*Consul-top Roman Republic Officials
-Two Consuls (Patricians) were chosen
every year.
-Headed the Army
-Consul could veto (Latin for “I forbid”)
-Veto was a way to keep each other in line
Roman Republic
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Praetor—main job was to interpret the law
and act as judges in court
Other Officials—kept tax records, handling
public finances, supervising festivals
Roman Republic
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Senate—Most important legislative body
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Select group 0f 300 Patrician men who served
for life
In the beginning, only gave advice to the
Consul
By 200s BC—proposed laws, debates, and
approved building programs
Roman Republic
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Assembly of Centuries—another legislative
body
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Elected Consuls and Praetors
Passed Laws
Under control of the Patricians
Plebeians vs. Patricians
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494 B.C.—Plebeians went on strike—refused to serve in
the army and set up a republic of their own.
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471 B.C. Council of the Plebs, elected tribunes to voice
concerns, won the right to veto government decisions
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455 B.C.—Plebeians and Patricians were allowed to mary
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300 B.C.—Plebeians were allowed to become consuls
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287 B.C.—Council of Plebs gained power to pass laws for
all Romans
Cincinnatus
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Dicator—had complete control, but they
served the people and ruled on a
temporary basis during emergencies
Most famous dictator --Cincinnatus
Roman Law
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Rome’s gift to the world was the system of law
451 B.C.—Twelve Tables—established the principle that
all free citizens had the right to be treated equally by the
legal system
Applied only to Roman citizens—realized they needed a
more systematic way of ruling lands they conquered
Law of Nations—stated principles of justice applied to all
people everywhere
Roman Law
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Principles:
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Innocent until proven guilty
People accused of crimes could defend themselves
before a judge
Judge had to examine evidence
Even though the concept of the “rule of law”
applied, people at the top of society often had special
privileges
Some places--lower class did not have any rights at
all.