Bellringer
Explain the differences between
Patricians & Plebeians in Roman
society.
Patricians
Plebeians
• Wealthy, powerful
citizens
• Nobles
• Small minority of the
population
• Once controlled all
aspects of government
• After 218 BC, not allowed
to participate in trade or
commerce
• Common People
• Peasants, crafts-people,
traders, other workers
• Majority of the
population
• Gained right to
participate in
government
• Only Romans, who could
be traders, so many
became wealthy
ROMAN GOVERNMENT
AND SOCIETY
CHAPTER 10 SECTION 2
“I can understand and explain how
Rome’s tripartite government and
written laws helped create a
stable society.”
KIM Vocabulary Words
•Magistrates- powerful, elected officials
in Rome’s Government
•Consuls- the two most powerful
magistrates in Rome
•Roman Senate-Council of wealthy and
powerful Romans that advised the
city’s leaders.
KIM Vocabulary Continued
•Veto- power to prohibit actions by other
officials granted to the Tribunes.
•Latin- Roman Language
•Checks and Balances-method to balance
power to keep one part of the government
from becoming stronger than another
•Forum-Rome’s public meeting place- center of
life of Rome.
Roman Government
• Because the plebeians complained about the
Roman government in the 400s BC, the patricians
made changes to Rome’s government.
• They created new offices that could be held by the
plebeians.
• The people who held these offices protected the
rights and interests of the plebeian class.
• As a result of the changes, Rome would develop a
tripartite government, or a government with 3
parts.
• Each part of the government had its own powers,
rights, and privileges.
Magistrates
• The first part of Rome’s government was made up of
elected officials called magistrates.
• They were elected annually. Each one had their own
duties ranging from being judges to managing
finances, or organizing games/festivals.
• The two most powerful magistrates were called
consuls.
• They were elected annually. The power was split
between the two so one person would not become
too powerful.
• Consuls jobs were to run the city and lead the army.
Senate
• The second part of the Roman government was the
Senate.
• Council of wealthy and powerful Romans who served for
life- advised the city leaders. (First Kings- then Consuls)
• By the time the Republic was created it consisted of 300
members. At first members were only patricians, but
eventually wealthy plebeians became senators too.
• Magistrates would become senators upon completing
their terms in office.
• By 200 BC the Senate had great influence in Rome because
they influenced the magistrates and gained control of
financial affairs.
Assemblies
•The third part of Rome’s government was the
part that protected the common people, it had
two branches.
•The first branch was made up of assemblies.
Both patricians and plebeians took part in
these assemblies.
•Their primary job was to elect the magistrates
who ran the city of Rome.
Tribunes
• The second branch was made up of a group of
elected officials from the plebeian class called
tribunes.
• They held the power to veto or prohibit, actions by
other officials.
• Veto means, “I forbid” in Latin.
• The veto power made tribunes very powerful in
Rome’s government.
• Served only for one year to prevent abuse of
power.
Comprehension Check
•What are the three parts of Rome’s
government?
1.
2.
3.
Civic Duty
• Rome’s government would not have worked without
the participation of the people due to civic duty.
• That civic duty included doing what they could to make
sure the city prospered. They were expected to do the
following:
• Attend assembly meetings
• Vote in elections
• Voting in Rome was a complicated process, and not
everyone was allowed to do it.
• Wealthy and powerful citizens also felt it was their
duty to hold public office to help run the city. These
citizens were respected and admired by other Romans.
Checks & Balances
• In addition to limiting terms of office, the Romans
put restrictions on their leaders’ power.
• They did this by giving government officials the
ability to restrict the powers of other officials.
• For example, one consul could block the actions of
the other.
• Laws purposed by the Senate had to be approved by
magistrates and ratified by assemblies.
• These are examples of checks and balances.
Why have these?
• These measures prevented any part of the
government from becoming more powerful than
the others.
• Checks and balances made Rome’s government
very complicated.
• Sometimes quarrels would arise when officials had
different opinions.
• However, when compromise was used and the
officials worked together Rome’s government was
strong and efficient.
Written Law
•At first in Rome the laws made by the
patricians were not written down- they were
only known by the officials responsible for
making and enforcing the city’s laws.
•This made people unhappy because they did
not want to be punished for breaking laws
they did not know existed.
•As a result- the laws began to be written
down.
Make an Inference!
•Why did many people want a written
law code?
The Twelve Tables
• Rome’s first written laws code was
produced in 450 BC on 12 bronze
tables, or tablets.
• These tables were displayed in the
Forum- Rome’s public meeting place.
• These were called the Twelve Tables.
• Over time, Rome’s leaders would pass
many new laws.
• The Twelve Tables would be looked
upon as a symbol of Roman law and of
their rights as Roman citizens.
Impact Today
•Just as the United States took democracy from
Ancient Greece- we also took many elements of
the Roman Republic as well.
•Elect our leaders
•Our government has 3 branches- the President
(Executive), Congress (Legislative), and the
Federal Court System (Judicial).
•The power of these branches are explained in our
constitution, just like Roman officials were.
Impact Today Continued
•We have a system of Checks and Balances to
prevent any branch from becoming too strong.
•Like Tribunes in Rome, the President of the USA
has the power to veto actions by other
government officials.
•Americans also believe in civic duty to
participate in government to keep it as strong as
it can be.
•The Twelve Tables are similar to our Bill of
Rights.
Analyze It!
•Why do you think the founders of the
United States borrowed elements from
the Roman government?
The Roman Forum
•The Forum was the center of life in Ancient Rome.
•It housed the city’s most important religious
temples and government buildings.
•Housed Important government documents were
stored in the Tabularium, such as the Law of the
Twelve Tables
•Roman citizens would be dressed in togas, lose
fitting garments wrapped around the bodysymbol of citizenship.
•The word forum means public place.
The Roman Forum Ruins
The Forum
• Located in the center of Rome, between two major
hills
• One side was the Palatine Hill, where Rome’s
richest people lived.
• Across the forum was Capitoline Hill, where
Rome’s grandest temples stood.
• The Temple of Jupiter stood atop the Capitoline
Hill.
• The Senate met here in the curia, or Senate House.
• Leaders would use the Forum as a speaking area,
delivering speeches to the crowds.
Entertainment
• Romans meet there to talk about the issues of the
day, as well as to shop, chat, and gossip.
• Many attractions could be found in the Forum
• Shops lined the open square, and fights between the
gladiators were sometimes held there.
• Public ceremonies were commonly held in the Forum
as well.
• As a result the forum was typically packed with
people.
Generalize It!
•How was the Forum the heart of Roman
society?
Homework:
•Write at minimum a ½ page response
explaining how Rome’s tripartite government
and written laws helped create a stable society.
Use specific evidence from your notes to
provide support.
•Due 3/26.