Rome Day 2 Structure of the Republic

The Roman World

Rome Day 1 Geography Rome Day 2 Structure of the Republic Rome Day 3 Punic Wars

Rome Day 4 Republic to Empire Rome Day 5 Roman Society Rome Day 6 Christianity

Rome Day 7 Fall of Rome Rome Day 8 Review Unit Plan for Rome

Objectives:

1. Compare and contrast the structure of the

Roman Republic with that of the United States.

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Section 1: Founding the Roman Republic

In this section you will discover how the Romans organized the government of their republic. You will find out what the Conflict of the Orders was, and how it changed the early Roman Republic. Finally, you will learn how the roles of citizens and non-citizens differed under Roman rule.

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Vocabulary & Questions (Link to Google Forms)

1. republic

2. dictator

3. consuls

4. veto

5. checks and balance

6. praetors

7. censors

8. tribunes

9. patricians

10. plebeians

11. How did Romans organize the government of their republic?

12. Which position is most similar to the President of the United States? Explain.

13. What do citizens of Rome have in common with citizens of the United States?

14. What are the differences between the citizens of Ancient Rome and citizens of the United States?

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In 509 B.C. wealthy Romans overthrew the Etruscan king. They established a republic, a form of government in which voters elect officials to run the state. Three groups governed the republic: the Senate, the magistrates, and popular assemblies. The Senate was the most powerful. In emergencies the Senate could name a dictator, or absolute ruler, who had complete command of the army and courts for six months. The magistrates included consuls, praetors, and censors. Two men were elected to one-year terms as consuls, or chief executives. They ran the government and commanded the army (Who is in charge of our armed forces today?). Each consul could veto, or refuse to approve, the acts of the other. This division was based on the principle of checks and balances, which prevents any part of the Romans elected officials called praetors (PREE·tuhrz) to help the consuls. They commanded armies and oversaw the legal system. Censors registered citizens according to their wealth, appointed senators, and supervised moral conduct. Several assemblies of citizens voted on laws and elected officials. These popular assemblies elected 10 officials called tribunes, who could refuse to approve actions by the Senate or other officials. Patricians were powerful landowners who inherited power to control the government and society. Plebeians—mainly farmers and workers—made up most of the population. Plebeians could vote but not hold office. Judges were always patricians. Plebeians increased their power through demands and strikes. They gained the right to join the army, hold office, form their own assembly, and elect tribunes. They forced the government to write down the laws. Later a plebeian always held one of the consul positions. Some plebeians became so wealthy and powerful that they joined the nobility. For 200 years the Roman army fought to extend the empire. Adult male citizens had to serve in the legion. Discipline was strict, and morale was high. The Romans made people in nearby cities full citizens. People in more distant cities became partial citizens, who could own property but could not vote. (What was the benefit of that? Why would the Romans do that? How can you apply that to today with people in our country?)People in distant areas became allies, who remained independent but supplied soldiers. Conquered peoples also provided land for Roman farmers. These policies helped the Romans control conquered areas and spread the Roman culture and language.

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The Rule of Law and Justice -

No one is above the law, it applied to all people of both classes.

Five Basic Principles of Roman Law

a. People are equal under the law (due process of law - U.S. 5th and 14th amendments)

b. Innocent until proven guilty

c. The accused can face the accusers and defend themselves against a charge (6th amendment)

d. Guilt must be clearly established (guilt beyond reasonable doubt)

e. decisions based on fairness (impartial juries)

Link to clip

Key Concepts: Power, Conflict

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Vocabulary

republic: Form of government in which voters elect officials to run the state

dictator: Absolute ruler

consuls: Chief executives elected to run the government in ancient Rome.

veto: Refuse to approve (a bill or law)

checks and balance: System of government that prevents any one part of the government from becoming

too powerful

praetors: Elected Roman officials who helped the consuls

censors: Roman officials who registered citizens according to their wealth, appointed senators, and

supervised moral conduct

tribunes: Officials elected by Rome’s popular assemblies who could veto actions of the Senate

patricians: Powerful landowners who inherited power to control Roman government and society

plebeians: Farmers and workers who made up most of the Roman population

State of the Union Address 2015

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Discussion questions

1. How did Romans organize the government of their republic?

2. What effect did the Conflict of the Orders have on the early Roman Republic?

http://www.vroma.org/~bmcmanus/orders.html

• • 494 BCE: traditional date of the First Secession of the Plebs, during which they established their own assembly (the Concilium Plebis) and elected their own magistrates, the Tribunes and the Plebeian Aediles.

  • 450 BCE: traditional date of the Law of the Twelve Tables, the first codification of Roman law

  • 445 BCE: patricians and plebeians were permitted to intermarry

  • 367 BCE: plebeians became eligible for the consulship

  • 342 BCE: law passed making it mandatory that one of the two Consuls must be a plebeian

  • 339 BCE: law passed making it mandatory that one of the two Censors must be a plebeian

  • 300 BCE: half of the priesthoods (which were also state offices) must be plebeian

  • 287 BCE: Third Secession, won the concession that all plebiscites, measures passed in the Concilium Plebis, had the force of laws for the whole Roman state

3. What specific rights enjoyed by full citizens was denied to partial citizens as Rome expanded?

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NYS Essential Question: What assumptions do different groups hold about power, authority, governance, and law?

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Exit questions:

1. What kind of government did the Romans create?

2. How was the Roman society structured?