THE ROMAN REPUBLIC
REPUBLIC
Republic: A type of government with elected officials
ROMAN CLASSES
Patricians: Wealthy Romans who ran the government
Means Father
Wealthy Landowners
Could be elected to the Senate
Held High Military Positions
Held High Religious Positions
ROMAN CLASSES
Plebeians: The Common people of Rome,
majority of the Population
Means Many
Peasants– Laborers, Craftsmen, Shopkeepers
Could Not Be Elected To Senate
Could Not Be Priests
Forced to Serve in Army
ELECTED OFFICIALS
Senate: 300 men elected by
Patricians to advise Roman
leaders
Term of Office: Life
Powers:
A. Appoint other government
officials
B. Serve as judges
ELECTED OFFICIALS
Consuls: Two executives elected to
run the government
Term of Office: One year
Powers:
A. Direct the government
B. Command the army
Veto Power: Each consul could
overrule the other
REVOLT OF THE PLEBEIANS
What Happened: Plebs rebelled and left the city, refused to
work on farms
Why: Plebs wanted more rights in the government
Results: Tribune of the Plebs was created
REVOLT OF THE PLEBEIANS
 “There was great panic in the
city, and everyone was afraid.
Many of the common people
were leaving the city. The rich
and powerful wondered how long
the crowds who stayed in Rome
would remain peaceful. And what
would happen if an army was
needed to fight foreign
invaders?... The patricians had
little choice but to compromise.”
PLEBEIAN GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS
Tribunes of the Plebs: Leaders
elected to represent the
Plebeians
Powers:
A. Speak for the Plebeians to
Senate and Consuls
B. Veto actions by the Senate
PLEBEIAN GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS
Council of the Plebs
(Assembly): Law-making
body of the Plebeians
Power: Make laws (for
Plebeians only, not
Patricians)
GOVERNMENT REFORMS
The Twelve Tables: The laws of
Rome written on 12 bronze tablets
and displayed in the Forum in 451
B.C.
Why did Plebs like this?
Everyone can see the laws
Prevents government from applying
laws differently to rich and poor
GOVERNMENT REFORMS
 New Law in 367 B.C.
 A. Required one Consul to be a Plebeian
 B. Former Consuls became Senators, so Plebs
were allowed in the Senate
 New Law in 268 B.C.
 A. Council of the Plebs could now make laws for
all Romans
 B. Council of the Plebs nominated Consuls,
Tribunes, and Senators
 Significance: Provides more rights and
equality to Plebs
GOVERNMENT TERMS
Tripartite Government: Government is divided into three parts
Rome
United States
Legislative
300 Senators
100 Senators, 435
Representatives
Executive
Two Consuls
One President
Judicial
Eight judges served
for one year
Nine Supreme Court
justices serve for life
GOVERNMENT TERMS
Roman Citizen: Person who was allowed to participate in the
government
Rights of Citizens
Duties of Citizens
1. Vote
1. Pay taxes
2. Hold political office
2. Serve in army
GOVERNMENT TERMS
Civic Duty: Actions expected of
responsible citizens
A. Paying taxes
B. Serving in the military
C. Holding public office
D. Voting
GOVERNMENT TERMS
Checks and Balances: Each part
of the government balances the
others so no one branch
becomes to powerful
A. Consuls and Tribunes could
veto laws passed by the Senate
B. Consuls only served for one
year