ROMAN REPUBLICROMAN REPUBLIC Was not a static institution Was not a static institution

but rather a continually but rather a continually evolving structureevolving structure Political participation and Political participation and

eligibility to run for office eligibility to run for office widened over timewidened over time

Powers of various Powers of various assemblies and elected assemblies and elected officials also changed officials also changed with timewith time

But it also became But it also became increasingly corruptincreasingly corrupt

35 Tribes35 Tribes ““each (Tribe) was headed by a tribune, and these each (Tribe) was headed by a tribune, and these

tribunes represented their respective tribes in all tribunes represented their respective tribes in all civil, religious, and military affairs”civil, religious, and military affairs”A Dictionary of Greek and Roman Antiquities, 1875.A Dictionary of Greek and Roman Antiquities, 1875.

People of the city of Rome itself, typically belonged People of the city of Rome itself, typically belonged to the four urban tribes, which were the largest and to the four urban tribes, which were the largest and had the least political power. These tribes were had the least political power. These tribes were named for districts of the city.named for districts of the city.

Landowners and aristocracy traditionally belonged Landowners and aristocracy traditionally belonged to the 31 smaller rural tribes.to the 31 smaller rural tribes.

Because each tribe had 1 vote, the less people in Because each tribe had 1 vote, the less people in your tribe, the more power your voice had. your tribe, the more power your voice had.

The PatriciansThe Patricians Original aristocracy of RomeOriginal aristocracy of Rome

Had been distinguished Had been distinguished citizens who advised Latin citizens who advised Latin kingskings

Played leading role in Played leading role in overthrowing Etruscansoverthrowing Etruscans

Once the Etruscans were driven Once the Etruscans were driven out the patricians declared Rome out the patricians declared Rome a republic. They served in the a republic. They served in the Senate and were very privileged. Senate and were very privileged.

Wealth based primarily on Wealth based primarily on ownership of farmland and/or ownership of farmland and/or urban real estateurban real estate Originally possessed monopoly Originally possessed monopoly

on membership in Senate and on membership in Senate and various elected officesvarious elected offices

The PlebeiansThe Plebeians Free men who could not trace their ancestry back to advisors of Latin Free men who could not trace their ancestry back to advisors of Latin

kingskings Plebeians were a class of citizens who were usually non aristocratic Plebeians were a class of citizens who were usually non aristocratic

farmers, artisans and shopkeepers, and some were wealthy. farmers, artisans and shopkeepers, and some were wealthy. They had served in the army under EtruscansThey had served in the army under Etruscans Etruscans had promoted their interests and protected their civil Etruscans had promoted their interests and protected their civil

statusstatus With overthrow of Etruscans they lost powerWith overthrow of Etruscans they lost power

Patricians would not let them share in governmentPatricians would not let them share in government

They did have rightsThey did have rights•such as the right to serve in such as the right to serve in the Assemblythe Assembly• and the right to vote, trade, and the right to vote, trade, hold property, and administer hold property, and administer judicial self defense. judicial self defense.

The Clients and the SlavesThe Clients and the Slaves The The ClientsClients were peasant were peasant

farmers who rented land. They farmers who rented land. They would follow a certain patron would follow a certain patron and perform political duties, and perform political duties, including assassinations, and including assassinations, and lying in court, if it would help lying in court, if it would help further his patron's political further his patron's political career. career.

In return, the client often In return, the client often received money, a job, or an received money, a job, or an invitation to dinner at the invitation to dinner at the patron's house. A dinner patron's house. A dinner invitation may not seem like invitation may not seem like much to us today, but in Roman much to us today, but in Roman times it could mean a great times it could mean a great place in society if he appeared place in society if he appeared at the right dinner parties. at the right dinner parties.

His prestige in society would be His prestige in society would be much more enhanced if he were much more enhanced if he were seen by the rich and famous at seen by the rich and famous at only one dinner party hosted by only one dinner party hosted by a powerful patron. a powerful patron.

This patron-client relationship This patron-client relationship led to many interesting led to many interesting situations in ancient Rome. situations in ancient Rome. Sometimes candidates for Sometimes candidates for various government various government magistracies would travel magistracies would travel around Rome with several around Rome with several hundred or even a few hundred or even a few thousand of their clients. thousand of their clients.

Lastly were the Lastly were the SlavesSlaves, who , who had no freedom or rights had no freedom or rights whatsoever unless it was whatsoever unless it was bestowed upon them by their bestowed upon them by their master. master.

Patricians versus PlebeiansPatricians versus Plebeians

A series of protests by the plebeians A series of protests by the plebeians forced the patricians to give rights to forced the patricians to give rights to the assembly. the assembly. Originally the plebeians were authorized Originally the plebeians were authorized

two tribunes to serve in the senate, but two tribunes to serve in the senate, but that number eventually rose to tenthat number eventually rose to ten

Tribunes had the power to intervene in Tribunes had the power to intervene in all political matters and to veto all political matters and to veto measures they thought were unfairmeasures they thought were unfair

Increased Representation for Increased Representation for PlebeiansPlebeians

During the 4During the 4thth Century, plebeians became Century, plebeians became eligible to be elected senators and gained eligible to be elected senators and gained the right to have one of the consuls come the right to have one of the consuls come from their ranks (Tribune)from their ranks (Tribune)

By the early 3By the early 3rdrd Century, plebeian- Century, plebeian-dominated assemblies won the power to dominated assemblies won the power to make decisions binding on all of Romemake decisions binding on all of Rome

Republican Rome was gradually Republican Rome was gradually broadening the base of political broadening the base of political participationparticipation

The Twelve TablesThe Twelve Tables Written Laws – victory for plebeiansWritten Laws – victory for plebeians Said that all free citizens had equal Said that all free citizens had equal

protection under the law.protection under the law.

(They weren’t really tables, but 12 tablets with written laws.)

Roman LawRoman Law

•All citizens had the right to equal All citizens had the right to equal treatment under the law.treatment under the law.

•A person was considered innocent until A person was considered innocent until proven guilty.proven guilty.

•The burden of proof rested with the The burden of proof rested with the accuser rather than the accused person.accuser rather than the accused person.

•Any law that seemed unreasonable or Any law that seemed unreasonable or grossly unfair could be set aside.grossly unfair could be set aside.

Roman RepublicRoman Republic

SenateSenate The Senate was a select counsel of 300 men who served for The Senate was a select counsel of 300 men who served for

life. life. Aristocrat branch of Rome Aristocrat branch of Rome Chosen as members because of how important their family was. Chosen as members because of how important their family was. They were mainly very conservative, very privileged, very wealthy, and owned lots They were mainly very conservative, very privileged, very wealthy, and owned lots

of land. of land. They chose the consuls who ruled Rome. They chose the consuls who ruled Rome.

Plebeians will later be able to be elected to the senate Plebeians will later be able to be elected to the senate The senate's principal role was as an advisory council to the The senate's principal role was as an advisory council to the

two Roman consuls on matters of foreign and military policy,two Roman consuls on matters of foreign and military policy, exercised a great deal of influence over the two consuls. exercised a great deal of influence over the two consuls.

The senate also managed civil administration within the city. The senate also managed civil administration within the city. only the senate could authorize the appropriation of public monies from only the senate could authorize the appropriation of public monies from

the treasurythe treasury In addition, the senate would try individuals accused of In addition, the senate would try individuals accused of

political crimes (such as treason).political crimes (such as treason).

ConsulshipConsulship

Consuls Consuls Like Kings commanded the army and Like Kings commanded the army and

government government Limits on powerLimits on power

1 year term1 year term Must return to the senate after term is up Must return to the senate after term is up Could not be reelected for 10 years Could not be reelected for 10 years Veto power over other consulVeto power over other consul

Modern day examples Modern day examples

TRIBAL ASSEMBLYTRIBAL ASSEMBLY

Primary function was to pass lawsPrimary function was to pass laws Laws were binding to all in RomeLaws were binding to all in Rome

Voting also not done on an individual basisVoting also not done on an individual basis Done according to tribeDone according to tribe

35 in all; each having one vote35 in all; each having one vote Rich and poor fairly equally distributed in each tribeRich and poor fairly equally distributed in each tribe

Two stumbling blocksTwo stumbling blocks Many members of Head Count did not attend meetings because that Many members of Head Count did not attend meetings because that

meant taking off workmeant taking off work Attendance at Assembly therefore tended to be dominated by the Attendance at Assembly therefore tended to be dominated by the

wealthy and their clientswealthy and their clients Assembly could not do anything without the collaboration of a tribuneAssembly could not do anything without the collaboration of a tribune

Who only could introduce legislationWho only could introduce legislation Any tribune of the ten could veto legislative proposalAny tribune of the ten could veto legislative proposal

All ten had to agree before a bill became lawAll ten had to agree before a bill became law Not hard for wealthy to find one tribune to do their dirty work Not hard for wealthy to find one tribune to do their dirty work

for themfor them

Rome The United StatesExecutive 2 consuls, elected by assembly

for one year. Chief executives of the government and commanders in chief of the army (patrician class)* A dictator could be appointed in time of crisis!

A president elected by the people for 4 years. Chief executive of the government and commander in chief of the army

Legislative Senate of 300 members, chosen from patrician class (wealthy class) for life. Controls foreign and financial policies. Centuriate Assembly—all citizen soldiers are members for life, selects consuls and makes laws Tribal Assembly—citizens grouped according to where they live for life, elects tribunes and makes laws.

Senate of 100 members, elected by people for 6 year terms, make laws, advise president on foreign policy. House of Representatives 435 members, elected by people for 2 yrs, makes laws

Judicial 8 judges chosen for one year by Centuriate Assembly. 2 oversee and civil and criminal courts

Supreme Court, 9 justices appointed for life, highest court, hears civil and criminal appeals cases.

Legal Code 12 Tables—list of rules that were the basis of Roman legal System

U.S Constitution – Basic law of US

Citizenship Patritians - All land owning adult males *Plebeians (working class, poor Romans) were considered citizens but did not have much influence in government.

All natural born or naturalized persons.

Close: Describe 3 ways in which Close: Describe 3 ways in which the government of the Roman the government of the Roman Republic was similar to our own. Republic was similar to our own. Describe 2 ways in which it Describe 2 ways in which it differed. differed.

How was the government of Rome similar to How was the government of Rome similar to the government of the United States? the government of the United States?

1 paragraph summary of 1 paragraph summary of Roman Republic. Include Roman Republic. Include

comparison to U.S. governmentcomparison to U.S. government