Aim: Rome’s RepublicAim: Rome’s Republic

Citizens of RomeCitizens of RomePlebeiansPlebeians

• Men who farmed, traded, and made

things for a living.

• Most Romans were plebeians

• Had the right to vote and the responsibility to pay taxes and serve in the army.

• Could not hold public office• Lower social status (couldn’t marry

patricians).

PatriciansPatricians• Members of Rome’s noble

families.

• Wealthy landowners

• Owned large farms and had plebeians work on the land for them.

• Had the right to vote and the responsibility to pay taxes and serve in the army.

Governing the RepublicGoverning the Republic

• They elected representatives, people who acted for them.• Not all Roman votes were equal.• The more powerful the man was, the greater his vote had.• Rome had a tripartite, or three part government.

**one group ran the government, another group made the laws, and a third group acted as judges.

• Government had checks and balances to prevent one group from gaining too much power.

Rome’s Republic500 B.C.

Consuls-OfficialsTwo patricians

Chosen every yearArmy commanders

Power to vetoOrdered arrests

proposed new laws

SenateLegislative or lawmaking body

Oldest and most powerful300 patrician males

Served for lifeControlled $

Communicated with other governments

Assembly of CenturiesElected consuls and praetors

Passed lawsControlled by patricians

Rome’s Republic287 B.C.

Dictator-used in emergency situations

Consuls-OfficialsI patrician & 1 plebeian

Chosen every yearArmy commanders

Power to veto each otherOrdered arrests

proposed new laws

SenateLegislative or lawmaking body

Oldest and most powerful 300 male citizens (both plebeians

and patricians)Served for lifeControlled $

Communicated with other governments

Citizen AssemblyElected consuls and praetors

Passed lawsConsuls veto consul’s actions

All citizens

TribunesTribunesElected by citizen assembly

Represent plebeians-protect their rights

PraetorsPraetorsInterpreted law and acted as judges

Reforms made to the RepublicReforms made to the RepublicSenate became more powerful

• Proposed laws

• Held debates

• Approved building programs

Plebeians gained more rights• Set up own body of representatives called the Council of the Plebs

• Elected Tribunes

• Veto government decisions

• Could marry patricians

• Could become councils

• Males had equal political standing

• Could pass laws (287 B.C.)

Written LawsWritten Laws

• The plebeians protested because only the patricians knew what the laws were.

• As a result, the plebeians wrote the twelve tables on bronze tablets and posted them in the city’s forum.

• In the forum (marketplace), senators met and citizens pleaded their cased before the cases.

• Innocent until proven guilty, defend themselves against judge.

Answers1. A

2. A

3. D

4. B

5. C

6. D

7. C

8. B

9. A

10. A

11. D

12. B

13. C

14. B

15. C

16. C

17. E

18. B

19. A

20. d

21. B

22. C

23. E

24. A

25. D

26. C

27. A

28. B

29. C

30. A