Download the Roman Republic was a tripartite government

Government of the
Roman Republic
Separation of Powers
• Like the United States, the Roman Republic was a
tripartite government, meaning it separated its
government into three parts or powers
• Separation of Powers—Dividing a government into
different branches so that one person or group of
people does not hold all of the power.
Example: Executive, Legislative, and Judicial Branches
Checks and Balances
Each of the three branches could prevent the other
two from becoming too powerful. This is the principle
of checks and balances.
Example: In Rome, Senators (legislative branch)
voted on who the consuls (executive branch) would be.
What is an example of checks and balances in
America?
Executive Branch
Enforces/Carries out the Laws
Roman Republic
United States
Consuls—There were two
President—chosen by the
consuls in the Roman Republic. electoral college
Heads of the government and
Head of the Army
Vice President—assumes the
Presidency if the President is
Dictator—In times of
no longer able to serve
emergency, a dictator could be
appointed to rule singlehandedly for up to 6 months
--Nominated by a consul
Legislative Branch
Makes the Laws
Roman Republic
United States
Centuriate and Tribal
Assemblies—declared war and
passed some laws; run by
upperclasses
House of Representatives—
Members serve two-year terms
and control all bills dealing with
taxes; 435 members
Senate—elite and more
prestigious than assemblies;
Patrician body which
specialized in foreign policy
Senate—Members serve 6-year
terms and specialize in foreign
policy; 100 members (so more
elite—just like in Rome)
Judicial Branch
Interprets the Laws
Roman Republic
United States
Praetors—High Judges;
served two-year terms
Supreme Court—9member court which
determines whether laws
are constitutional
** Who appoints members of
Tribunes—Tried court
cases
the Supreme Court?
Lower Courts—Variety of
courts at the state,
county, and city level.
Legal Code
Roman Republic
United States
Twelve Tables—Originally not
Constitution—Adopted in 1787;
posted, but eventually posted Amended (changed) 27 times
in the Forum; Meant to protect since then
the plebeians from
Can you think of
the patricians
any amendments?
How would this protect
the plebeians?
Citizenship
Roman Republic
United States
Patrician and Plebeian men.
Determined through ancestry.
According to the 14th
amendment, determined by
American birth or the
naturalization process.
Includes all sexes and races.