Chapter 14 section 1Chapter 14 section 1The GovernmentThe Government

509 B.C.- Romans overthrow Tarquin 509 B.C.- Romans overthrow Tarquin the Proud (Etruscan king) and set up the Proud (Etruscan king) and set up a republica republic

Not everyone has an equal say in Not everyone has an equal say in government- Patricians can hold government- Patricians can hold public officepublic office

Plebeians- poorer citizens who can’t Plebeians- poorer citizens who can’t hold political office (at this time in hold political office (at this time in the history of the republic)the history of the republic)

This model of government serves as This model of government serves as the foundation of modern the foundation of modern governments today including the governments today including the United StatesUnited States

Head of Government:Head of Government: 2 Consuls- veto power and shared 2 Consuls- veto power and shared

equal power.equal power. Both had to agree before a law Both had to agree before a law

passedpassed

Roman Senate:Roman Senate: Made up of 300 men who were Made up of 300 men who were

chosen for lifechosen for life Called SenatorsCalled Senators Handled daily problems of Handled daily problems of

governmentgovernment Advised the consulsAdvised the consuls

TribunesTribunes Were government officials who were Were government officials who were

elected to protect the lower classes elected to protect the lower classes (Plebeians) rights(Plebeians) rights

Judges, assemblies, and tribunes Judges, assemblies, and tribunes were part of the Roman governmentwere part of the Roman government

All citizens belonged to the All citizens belonged to the assembliesassemblies

How it was organized (visual)How it was organized (visual)

Until about 450 B.C. Roman laws Until about 450 B.C. Roman laws were not written down.were not written down.

Laws were carved down on 12 bronze Laws were carved down on 12 bronze tablets called the 12 Tables- these tablets called the 12 Tables- these were placed in the Forum.were placed in the Forum.

These laws applied to all Romans- These laws applied to all Romans- patricians and plebeianspatricians and plebeians

These laws became the foundation of These laws became the foundation of all later Roman lawsall later Roman laws

The main benefit of having laws The main benefit of having laws written down was that the lawmakers written down was that the lawmakers and law-enforcers couldn't change and law-enforcers couldn't change them to suit their whims them to suit their whims

Once a law was made public (and Once a law was made public (and carving it into stone was about as public carving it into stone was about as public as it got), the law was known to as it got), the law was known to everyone. This also had the benefit for everyone. This also had the benefit for the lawmakers and law-enforcers of the lawmakers and law-enforcers of ruling out a lawbreaker's protestation ruling out a lawbreaker's protestation that he or she didn't know that what he that he or she didn't know that what he or she was doing was against the law. If or she was doing was against the law. If a law was made public, then it was a law was made public, then it was everyone's responsibility to know and everyone's responsibility to know and obey. obey.

12 Tables12 Tables Table ITable I mandates that when a person is mandates that when a person is

accused of something, both accused and accused of something, both accused and accuser must be present at a hearing or trial accuser must be present at a hearing or trial on the matter. Also, if both parties don't on the matter. Also, if both parties don't show up for a court date, the judge is free to show up for a court date, the judge is free to rule in favor of the party that did show up. rule in favor of the party that did show up.

Table IIITable III gives debtors 30 days to pay off a gives debtors 30 days to pay off a debt. After that, a creditor is free to seize debt. After that, a creditor is free to seize the debtor and make him or her a prisoner. the debtor and make him or her a prisoner.

Table IVTable IV makes a man's will binding. makes a man's will binding.

12 Tables12 Tables Table VIIITable VIII lists specific punishments for certain lists specific punishments for certain

crimes. It also says that if a person fails to show up crimes. It also says that if a person fails to show up as a trial witness, then that person will never again as a trial witness, then that person will never again be allowed to be a witness. Most importantly, it be allowed to be a witness. Most importantly, it says that a person shown to have lied in court will says that a person shown to have lied in court will be put to death. be put to death.

Table IXTable IX specifies capital punishment for judges specifies capital punishment for judges who have taken bribes and for people who have who have taken bribes and for people who have committed treason.  committed treason. 

It's also interesting to note that Table XI prohibits It's also interesting to note that Table XI prohibits marriages between plebeians and patricians. So, marriages between plebeians and patricians. So, even though the plebeians got some very even though the plebeians got some very important rights through the Twelve Tables, they important rights through the Twelve Tables, they couldn't marry into the upper class. The ruling class couldn't marry into the upper class. The ruling class had to keep the other hand, after allhad to keep the other hand, after all

Elections of tribunes and recording Elections of tribunes and recording laws were the first steps toward a laws were the first steps toward a more democratic governmentmore democratic government

By 250 B.C.- no one sold into slavery By 250 B.C.- no one sold into slavery because of debt and plebeians could because of debt and plebeians could hold officehold office