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GOVERNMENT NOW & THEN
United States and Roman Government
(A Comparative Study of the 2 Republics)
The United States Tripartite Federal Government
Structure Has Its Roots In The Roman Republic
THE ROMAN REPUBLIC
• REPUBLIC - Form of government in which
the people elect their leaders
– Is a form of representative democracy
• Tripartite Government – A government
structure that has three parts. (prefix tri = 3)
• The Patricians had to change the government in
order to meet the growing demands of the
Plebeians.
ROMAN EXECUTIVE
BRANCH
• Two most powerful executives
were Consuls
• Ran the city or Commanded
military
• Controlled Money
• Had Veto Power
– Say no to ideas of the other
– Helped limit each others power
• All Consuls were elected to one
year term (Unlimited Reelections)
U.S. EXECUTIVE BRANCH
• President (1) & Vice
President (1)
• Commander of Military
• Veto Power
• Elected to 4 Year Term
– (Serve 2 Terms)
• Must be 35 years old or
older and be a citizen of
the United States.
Link To White House Home Page
ROMAN LEGISLATIVE
BRANCH (2 Houses)
• Upper House - SENATE
• More powerful of the two
houses
– Was very powerful part of
Roman government
• 300 Patrician Men
– Later wealthy plebeians
• Makes Laws
• Elected For Life
• Must be 18 or older
ROMAN LEGISLATIVE
BRANCH (2 Houses)
• Lower House – ASSEMBLY
• Made up of both Patricians &
Plebeians
• Primary duty was to elect the
magistrates that ran city
• Less powerful than Senate
• Could only suggest laws to
Senate
• Elected to 1 Year Term
– Unlimited Reelection
U.S. LEGISLATIVE BRANCH
(2 Houses)
• Upper House - SENATE
• 100 Members
• Proposes Laws / Controls
Money
• Elected to 6 year term
– Unlimited Reelection
• Must be at least 30, Citizen
of U.S. for 9 years, resident
of the state you represent.
U.S. LEGISLATIVE BRANCH
(2 Houses)
• Lower House - House of
Representatives
• 435 Members
• Proposes Laws / Controls Money
• Has Equal Power with Senate
• Elected to 2 year term
– Unlimited Reelection
• Must be at least 25, Citizen of U.S.
for 7 years, resident of the state you
represent.
LINK
http://www.house.gov/
U.S. HOUSE OF REPS.
BOTH OF OUR LEGISLATIVE BODIES
TOGETHER = CONGRESS
ROMAN JUDICIAL BRANCH
• Tribunes
• Elected by Plebeians
• Could veto laws /
decisions of all other
officials
• Job was to protect rights
of the Plebeians
• To keep them from
abusing power, served a
one year term
U.S. JUDICIAL BRANCH
• Supreme Court & The
Federal Court System
• 9 Justices
– Appointed for life by Pres.
– Must be approved by Senate
• Protects citizens rights set
forth in the Constitution
• Makes sure laws/policies set
forth in Constitution are
carried out
Link To Supreme Court Home Page
U.S. & ROMAN GOVERNMENT
3 BRANCHES
U.S. / Roman Government
3 Branches
Their Functions
EXECUTIVE
BRANCH
Enforces Laws
(Carries them out)
LEGISLATIVE
BRANCH
Makes Laws
JUDICIAL
BRANCH
Interprets Laws
Checks & Balances
• Methods to make sure one part of the
government does not become more powerful
than another.
• Our government’s strength today is a similar
system of checks & balances to keep power
shared throughout the tripartite system.
Examples of Checks & Balances
• For Romans:
• Veto power of Consuls
• Veto power of Tribunes
• Laws proposed by Senate had to be approved by
magistrates & assemblies
For United States:
•
•
•
•
President can veto bill from Congress
Congress can override a veto of President
Judicial branch can declare law unconstitutional
Senate must approve the President’s appointments to his
cabinet & to the court
Now See If You Can List Some Of The
Similarities / Differences Between Our
Government & The Romans Government
Complete On The
Diagram Given To
You By Mr. Duvall!
Use Your Notes!
Use Your Brain!