The Roman Republic

1. The Roman Republic

2. Consuls • 2 elected Consuls shared the head of government • Members of the Senate – serve 1 year term • Consul = highest position in government • Controlled the army – Military leaders • Highest Judges

3. The Senate • Composed of leaders from the Patricians • Law makers of the Roman Republic • Members were not elected – they were chosen by the Consuls and they served for life

4. Assembly • Composed of all the plebeian citizens of Rome = common man • The assembly did not have a building, instead they met in the Forum • It was the right of the common man to assemble here and vote • Have very limited power • Could vote or suggest laws but the senate can block their decision. • Could vote to declare war • But the senate could override that decision • Had a very high and impressive power: • Assembly voted each year on which two members of the Senate would serve as Consuls

5. What is the Forum? • It is the center for banking, commerce, and law for all of Rome • This is where the Assembly met • The 12 tables were displayed here for all to see

6. 12 Tables • In the Roman republic every citizen could vote for their leaders, but who were the citizens?  • Only adult free men could be citizens.  That meant women, children and slaves were not  citizens, and could not vote. • The people needed to know what the laws were.  • They also wanted to make sure that the law applied to everyone rich and poor alike.  • Engraved the law on tablets of metal and put them in the forum • Called the Twelve Tables because there were twelve different sections.  • These laws were about crime and property and family matters like marriage and inheritance.  

7. Examples of 12 table laws • These have been simplified and reworded but hopefully the meanings have not been changed.  • If you are called to appear in court you have to go.  If you don't you can be arrested and forced to go.   • If you need a witness in court and they refuse to go you can stand in front of their house and shout out how they are refusing to do their duty as a citizen.  You can do this once every three days.   • Should a tree on a neighbor's farm be bent by the wind and lean over onto your farm, you can go to court and get the tree cut down.

8. Patricians vs Plebeians • Roman citizens were divided into two classes, Plebeians and Patricians.  • The plebeians were the lower class. They included everyone who was not a patrician.  They were sometimes just called plebs.  • The patricians were the upper class. They were the wealthy land owners.   • Plebeians and Patricians rarely mixed socially