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Roman Republic

Rome had a republic form of government where elected officials served one-year terms to prevent any one person from gaining too much power. It was not a true democracy since most elected officials came from wealthy families. Dictators could also be appointed for six months to lead during crises. Cincinnatus was admired for immediately resigning his dictatorship and returning to farmwork. Society was divided between the powerful patrician class and common plebeians. Plebeians formed their own council in 494 BC, frightening patricians. The government had multiple checks on power, including annual term limits, consuls, tribunes, and assemblies with participation from both classes. Laws were publicly displayed in the Forum, Rome's civic center.

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Corinne Amity Pennock
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131 views9 pages

Roman Republic

Rome had a republic form of government where elected officials served one-year terms to prevent any one person from gaining too much power. It was not a true democracy since most elected officials came from wealthy families. Dictators could also be appointed for six months to lead during crises. Cincinnatus was admired for immediately resigning his dictatorship and returning to farmwork. Society was divided between the powerful patrician class and common plebeians. Plebeians formed their own council in 494 BC, frightening patricians. The government had multiple checks on power, including annual term limits, consuls, tribunes, and assemblies with participation from both classes. Laws were publicly displayed in the Forum, Rome's civic center.

Uploaded by

Corinne Amity Pennock
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Government and Society

Republic: people elect leaders to govern them

Once elected, these members only served for one year.


Meant to keep any one person from acquiring too much

power
Rome was not a democracy due to the fact that

majority of the elected officials came from a wealthy and powerful group of men that held all the power and others had little power.
This makes Rome a republic

Dictators: rulers with almost absolute power to lead

the city Once dictators took power, they could only serve for six months to keep them from abusing power Cincinnatus was a farmer who was named dictator in 458 BC and defended Rome against enemies and then immediately resigned after and returned to farm way before his term was up.
Comprehension Question: What do you think this

says about Cincinnatus and the Rome governmental system?

The city divided into two groups

Plebeians: common people


They called for a change in the government

Patricians: nobles
They were powerful and were the only ones that could be

elected to office.
In 494 BC the plebeians formed a council and elected

their own officials and this caused fear. The patricians called for a change in the governmental system. Comprehension Question: Why do you think that the patricians were afraid when the plebeians elected their own officials?

Magistrates: elected officials

Consuls: (only 2 of them) elected to run the city and

lead the army


The consuls were the 2 most powerful magistrates and

all magistrates only served for one year and each had their own duties.
Senate: a council of wealthy and powerful Romans

that advised the citys leaders.


The senators held office for life It became very powerful; it controlled finances and

eventually greatly influenced Romes government.

Assemblies: protected common people and both

plebeians and patricians took part in it.


They elected magistrates who ran the city of Rome.

Tribunes: group of officials elected by the plebeians


They had the ability to Veto: prohibit actions by other

officials The veto made the tribunes very powerful To prevent abuse of power, they could only serve for one year
Comprehension Question: Why you do you think

that the Romans put some many restrictions on terms.

The people of Rome participated in government

because they felt it was their civic duty.


They were expected to attend assembly meetings and

vote in elections (not everyone could vote). Wealthy and powerful citizens felt as they their duty was to hold public offices.
Checks and Balances: method to balance power by

blocking actions of others. It kept one branch of government from becoming too powerful.

Officials were responsible for writing laws and making

sure people followed them. The first written law code was established in 450 BC on 12 bronze tablets (also know as the Twelve Tables). They were put on display in Romes Forum: public meeting place. The first 12 laws were knows as a symbol of the Roman laws and the rights of Roman citizens. Comprehension Questions: What do the 12 laws remind you of in the United States?

The Forum was the heart of the city of Rome, it had all

the important government buildings and temples It was a social place for the citizens of Rome It was in between two hills, on one side (Palatine) all the richest people lived and the other side (Capitoline) the grandest temples stood.

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