15/05/04

Three government rolled into one Patricians 

• Rule of Kings is replaced by rule of the consuls 
• consuls are elected officials
• term of office: one year
• always aristocrats (patricians)
• patricians traced their descent from a famous ancestor or pater ("father")
• duties: dealing justice, making law, commanding the army
• one consul could veto the other (reducing the power of the individual)

a challenge from the "regular folks"

• fifth century BCE - patrician dominance of the government was challenged by the plebs ("people")
• plebs were 98% of the population 
• how did the patricians dominate?
• - plebs had to serve in the army, but could not hold office
• - plebs were threatened with debt slavery
• plebs had no legal rights

no legal rights

• plebs were victims of discriminatory decisions in judicial trials
• Rome had no actual laws, just unwritten customs
• patricians could interpret these to their own advantage 
• plebs refused to serve in the military until ...
• - laws were written out [The Law of the Twelve Tables]
• - these laws (on tablets) were posted in public (in 450 BCE)
• - tribunes ("tribal leaders") were elected 

SPQR - Senatus Populusque Romanum 

res publica - the people's affairs

• democracy (the people's assembly and the tribunes)
• aristocracy (the Senate - approx. 300 members)
• plus monarchy (the consuls)
• not a tyranny

Government: ancient Roman/USA

• the US modeled their new government on the model used by the ancient Romans
• not exactly same
• both have three branches of government
• - executive
• - legislative 
• - judicial
• both have a legal code 

Three branches [1]

Executive (Rome)

• two consuls
• one year terms
• each has veto power
• controls the military
• could appoint a dictator in a crisis for six - month term

Executive (USA)

• president (and VP)
• four year terms
• can veto proposed laws
• commander - in - Chief

Three branches [2]

legislative (Rome)

• Senate - 300 people - aristocrats - members for life
• Assemblies 

legislative (USA)

• Senate - 100 senators (two from each state) - six-year terms
• House of Representative - 435 members  - two-year terms

Three branches [3]

Judicial (Rome)

• Praetors
• chosen by the Centuriate Assembly 
• one - year terms

Judicial (USA)

• Supreme Court
• nine members
• appointed by the President, confirmed by the Senate
• lifetime terms

Legal code

Twelve Tables （Rome）

• publically displayed 
• gave rights to plebeians, not just aristocrats
• only protected freeborn male citizens (not women)

Bill of Rights (USA)

• first ten amendments to the Constitution