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Roman Republic Info Sheet
REPUBLICAN GOVERNMENT
Date
753
BCE
509
BCE
Type of Government
MONARCHY - City of Rome founded by Romulus and Remus – Romulus killed Remus and named
the city after himself. City falls under the control of Etruscan kings.
REPUBLIC – Romans overthrow the last Etruscan king and want to avoid one leader with
complete control. The Roman Republic will last until the reign of Augustus.
Social Class in Rome
Plebeians – Small land owners, craftsmen, small Patricians – Large landowners and the ruling class
farmers and merchants of Rome.
They were of the Roman Republic. They were the only class
citizens, but they could not be elected to office. allowed to be elected consul, senator, or any of
They may not marry the Patricians but are the other major offices listed below.
expected to fight in the Roman army. If they have
the same responsibilities of Patricians, they
wondered, then why not the same rights?
Government of the Roman Republic
Executive Branch
Legislative Branch
Consuls – Two officials selected each year. These Senate – Three hundred men (900 when Julius
men ran the government and lead armies.
Caesar is in power and expands the Senate)
elected for life. Originally convened to advise
Praetors – In charge of laws for Roman citizens. public officials, but in time, their decrees were
Later, some praetors handled cases dealing with treated as laws.
noncitizens. These men were elected for one year.
Centuriate Assembly – Based on wealth, and in
Quaestors – Financial officers that dealt with the this case the upper class citizens were in the
treasury. These men were elected for one year.
majority. These men decided when Rome was
involved in war and also elected higher government
Aediles – Maintained public buildings. These men officials.
were elected for one year.
Council of the Plebs – Started in 471 BCE, but its
Tribunes of the Plebs – Ten men elected for one decrees were not binding to all citizens until 271
year, called meetings of the Council of Plebs.
BCE. After years of arguing, the Council of the
Plebs was formed to protect Plebeians. Later,
Censors – Two elected for eighteen months. Plebs were allowed to marry Patricians, become
These men conducted the census of goods and consul, and by 271 BCE they could pass laws for all
citizens.
Romans.
The Twelve Tables
In 450 BCE, in response to the demand of the Plebeians for equal rights, the Patricians agreed to pass
the Twelve Tables. These twelve laws were engraved on bronze tables and displayed in the Roman
Forum, the center of the city. These laws covered property rights, the right to trials, inheritance rights,
etc. Before the creation of the Twelve Tables, law was determined by the Patricians.
Roman Expansion
Rome conquered the tribes surrounding the city and continued to expand its territory. Rome continued
to conquer the lands in the Italian Peninsula and expand around the Mediterranean, coming into contact
with a major power to the south, Carthage.